Chhatrasal, Mahan Coal Blocks’ Fate Hangs In Balance
Author:
First published in Sanctuary Asia,
Vol. 32
No. 3,
March 2012
The allocation of the block had evoked the CAG's ire, and the top auditor has said that it gave an undue Rs 4,875-crore benefit to Reliance Power Limited against its Sasan UMPP.
Similarly, another coal block Mahan, which was given to Hindalco and Essar joint venture, accruing a Rs 2,650-crore gain, according to CAG, too is being relooked at for clearance after the GoM told the green ministry to review its decision.
The ministry had to set up a three-member panel to review the decisions. The committee's report has been submitted to the Union environment and forests minister Jayanthi Natarajan, who has to take a call whether mining should be permitted in these two blocks that are located in rich forest belts. Read the full report here.
Source: Nitin Sethi, TNN, New Delhi.
