Environment Ministry panel defers environment clearance to proposal by CIL unit

NEW DELHI: An environment ministry panel has deferred a proposal of Ib-Valley washery of Coal India Ltd's ( CIL) arm Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd.

A committee "for coal mining projects of Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) in its meeting held on March 17, 2016 had considered the environment clearance proposal of Ib-Valley washery of Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) and deferred the proposal," Coal and Power Minister Piyush Goyal said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha.

The panel deferred proposal requesting MOEF&CC to take up the issue of adequacy or otherwise of public hearing with the state government authorities due to objections raised by villagers; and for want of additional information regarding the MoU for utilisation of washery rejects, and baseline data and prediction of air quality in buffer zone for further consideration, the minister said.

"39.35 Ha of land has been identified for the washery, which is proposed to be located in the mine leasehold area of existing Belpahar Opencast Project (OCP) of Lakmanpur area of MCL. No investment has been made in this regard," Goyal said.

MCL has taken action to submit the information desired by the committee, the minister added.