Jairam, Coal Ministry In Tussle Over Mines In No-Go Zones

"No-go" areas are where no forest clearances are granted by the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF). Hence, mining in these areas is currently a non-starter. This is being opposed by Jaiswal who has gone to the cabinet for its intervention in resolving the "no-go" dispute.

Citing the concerns of key consumer sectors such as power, steel and cement, the coal ministry wants MoEF to deal with forest clearances in line with the current statutes and without any reference to "no-go" areas. It has argued that giving forest clearances to these blocks within the stipulated 150 days would help produce an additional 1.3 lakh MW of power. Read the full report here.

Source: Mahendra Kumar Singh, TNN, New Delhi.