Ramesh's no-mining plans in forests may face legal hurdles

NEW DELHI: Minister of state for environment and forests Jairam Ramesh���s plans for an environmentally responsive coal mining regime may run into some legal hurdles. Mr Ramesh proposed that for the purpose of mining, forest areas would be classified as ���go��� and ���no go��� areas. The ���go��� areas comprise the degraded forest area while the ���no go��� would include forest areas of medium and high density. ���No proposals will be entertained in the no-go areas. Coal India Limited will not submit any proposals for the no-go areas,��� the minister said.

This is a part of the six-point agenda prepared by the environment and coal ministries to expedite the forest and environment clearances for mining projects while keeping environmental interests in mind.

The ministry will need to amend the Forest Conservation Act and the Environment Protection Act if it is to enforce this plan. The existing legislations do not classify forest areas as ���go��� and ���no go���. At an all-India level, 55-60% of forest areas are classified as degraded.

In the absence of legislative backing, the plans to restrict mining to areas of degraded forests could well be challenged. The environment minister said this restriction would apply to all new proposals. Plans for ongoing mining activity in medium and high density forest areas (or ���no go��� zones) were not disclosed. Mr Ramesh said that while giving clearances in the degraded forest land, the provisions of the legislation would be adhered to. ���We will not flout the provisions of the law.���