Requests excluding coal blocks located in the Hasdeo Aranya of Chhattisgarh, the catchment area of Mand river and the boundary of the proposed elephant reserve from upcoming coal block auction
It is appropriate to keep these coal blocks out of the auction for the protection of forest and environment and control of human elephant conflict, says Mohammad Akbar
Raipur, June 21, 2020. Chhattisgarh Forests, Housing and Environment Minister Mohammad Akbar has written a letter to Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javdekar urging him not to include coal blocks situated in the catchment areas of Hasdeo Aranya and adjoining Mand River and areas within the proposed elephant reserve in Chhattisgarh in the upcoming coal block auction to be conducted by the Government of India.
He has written in the letter that exclusion of coal blocks situated in these areas of Chhattisgarh from auction would be appropriate from the viewpoint of protection of forest and environment.
Mr. Mohammad Akbar has written that the central and northern region of the state, which is covered with dense forests on one side, also has abundance of coal reserves. At present, mining is being done in the areas allotted to various central, state and private institutions in this area. In the said area, auction of coal blocks is also proposed in the two important rivers of the state, Hasdeo and the catchment area of Mand.
Recently, it has been decided to declare the 1995 square kilometer area adjoining the Hasdeo River as Lemru Elephant Reserve, in view of the continuous increase in number of elephants in the state, increase in incidence of human elephant conflict and the need for elephant habitat. In pursuance of which action for notification publication is in progress.
Chhattisgarh’s Minister of Forests and Environment has written in the letter that for the protection of the forests and environment of the state and effective control over incidents of human elephant conflict in the future, it is very important to stop future mining activities in the said area. Exclusion of coal blocks situated in these areas in the auction of future coal blocks would be appropriate from the point of view of protection of forest and environment.
Mr. Mohammad Akbar has requested the Union Minister in the letter that the upcoming coal block auction should not include the coal blocks located in ctchment areas of Hasdeo Aranya and adjoining areas of the Mand river and areas within the boundary of the proposed elephant reserve.
