Adani wins Queensland govt’s approval to protect endangered finch bird at coal mine site in Australia

Indian energy giant Adani won a key approval from the Queensland state government of Australia on Friday to protect the endangered black-throated finch bird population as part of its crucial environmental plan at the site of its proposed billion dollar mine project. The victory for the Adani Group’s long-delayed mega coal mine project came days after a surprise election win of Australia’s pro-coal ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

The group’s country head — Adani Australia Chief Executive Officer Lucas Dow — last week said that the defeat of the opposition Labor Party in Queensland, where the project is based, is a clear message to get the project done. Labor Party leader Bill Shorten, who took a firm stand against coal and mining, resigned as his party fared poorly in Queensland, especially in mining communities in the north of the state. The black-throated finch management plan and a groundwater plan were the two persisting hurdles before the Indian energy giant could begin work on the largest coal mine project in the country.