If you thought the mining project of Adani Mining Private Limited was the only threat to the dense forest cover around Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), get ready for a shock.
The Adani mining project is just a tip of iceberg as five companies have been allotted coal blocks in the area which would prove to be the last nail in the coffin of the most glamorous tiger reserve of the state. Surprisingly, state government undertaking Maharashtra State Mining Corporation is one of the companies lobbying for mining permissions in the area. Interestingly, the area, the Corporation is eyeing is within the buffer zone of TATR.
The major coal blocks in the vicinity of TATR are Agarzari Coal Block and Lohara (East) coal block both admeasuring 800 hectares. Lohara (East) Coal Block was allotted to ACC in 1999. But the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) rejected the proposal on the grounds that the proposed mining site is close to TATR and mining activities would destroy the tiger reserve. The coal block is not allotted to Murli Agro Products Limited and Grace Industries Limited.
“There are around eight companies that have been allotted coal blocks in the Wardha Valley Coal Field spread in Chandrapur Ballarshah belt,” said Swanand Sovani of Shrushti Paryavaran Mandal, Nagpur. It is hard to believe that the same coal block where the MoEF rejected mining permission few years back has once again been allotted for mining, Sovani added.
According to information the extractable coal reserve of the area is to the tune of 309.832 metric tones. “All the other companies are waiting for approval to Adani Mining to start their process. If allowed, mining would destroy over 17,000 hectare of rich forest cover in the region,” alleged Dr SM Chopne, president of Green Planate, a Chandrapur based NGO.
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