Forest Minister or Mining Minister??

It is probably the first incident in the state that in a bid to support a project, a cabinet minister has gone to the extent of threatening Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) of dire consequences of opposing the project.
The activists of Shrushti Paryavaran Mandal, Nagpur were stunned when state forest minister Babanrao Pachpute got angry over objection to proposed coal mine of Adani Mining Limited on the periphery of Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve. So much so that Pachpute went to the extent of cautioning the activists not to try his faith on non-violence.
The stand taken by forest minister to support a mining project has even shocked senior forest department officials.
It was during a meeting of the NGOs and representatives of Adani Mining Limited held at Nagpur on January 20. The minister asked the NGOs to suggest measures to reduce impact of mining on the surrounding forest and even proposed to form a committee for the purpose. Reacting to the proposal, NGOs demanded that the proposal per se should be scrapped and the question of discussions on ways to reduce adverse impact of mining did not arise at all.
Sources said that the minister was visibly angry in the meeting and came down heavily on the activists opposing the project. He indicated to resort to violence to curb the opposition saying, “Me ahimsavadi aahe. Majhya ahimsechay maryadanche tumhi ullaghan karat aahat.” (I am a believer of non-violence. You are crossing the limits), sources, who were present at the meeting said.
The statement came as a major blow to the NGOs and even the forest department officials present in the meeting were shocked. “It was not at all expected from a minister. We had a hard time to come to the terms with situation after he made the statement,” said a senior forest department official.
When contacted Babanrao Pachpute said, “I had made it clear right in the beginning that no one should oppose development. The meeting was called to discuss the wildlife conservation plan. We have formed a committee to discuss ways to mitigate adverse effects of mining on the forest.”
A ten-member committee headed by nodal officer Conservator of Forest Shailendra Bahadur has been formed to discuss the ways to minimise the effects of mine on the forest. However Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF), Wildlife B Majumdar has strongly opposed appointment of Shailendra Bahadur on the committee as he is nodal officer who is part of the process of paper work for the proposed mine.
Swanand Soni of Shrushti Paryavaran Mandal, Nagpur said, “We are not against power generation. But the company should explore other sources of coal. We will oppose the mine till last breath.” Soni, who was appointed on the committee without consent, has opted out of it.