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Journalism of Courage
The environment and coal ministries have come together to expedite clearance of coal mining projects in forest areas.
Environment minister Jairam Ramesh today told reporters that a plan was being prepared to allow exploitation of degraded forest areas for coal mining in the country.
With at least 55 to 60 per cent of forest areas in the country categorised as degraded areas the coal ministry can expect to see most of its projects kicking off soon,once the plan is implemented.
Mining in degraded forest land would,however,not be possible without getting approval from tribals,according to the provisions of the Tribal Rights Act. The minister said that while giving clearances in the degraded forest land,the clauses of Tribal Rights Act enacted by Parliament will be adequately taken care of.
Coal minister Sriprakash Jaiswal said that within the next two months,the coal ministry would submit plans of coal field areas superimposed with digitised maps of the forest cover to be divided into Go and No Go areas.
