The Centre on Monday clarified that any foreign direct investment (FDI) in commercial coal mining from an entity of a country that shares land borders with India will be allowed only after government approval. “This is with reference to the ongoing auction process of coal mines for commercial coal mining…It is further clarified that any […]
Category: Coal
76 mishaps in 10 years, coal ash India’s big under-radar danger, notes study
There have been 76 major coal ash pond accidents across the country in the last 10 years, according to a study carried out by the Health Energy Initiative India and the Community Environmental Monitoring. Besides deaths and loss of property, the accidents also resulted in extensive pollution of nearby water resources, air and soil, the […]
Stuck with coal pits the world needs, but few want
The Mt Arthur coal mine in Australia is one of the world’s best. It’s got plenty of reserves and the low-cost supplies produced there are easily shipped to Southeast Asia, where there’s insatiable appetite for the fuel. Yet owner BHP Group has a problem: It’s struggling to find a buyer willing to pay the right […]
Assam orders judicial probe into illegal coal mining in Dehing Patkai
The Assam government on Saturday ordered a judicial probe into allegations of illegal coal mining in Upper Assam’s Dehing Patkai rainforest region — in the eye of a controversy for the last few months. A release from the Chief Minister’s Office on Saturday said that a one-man inquiry panel comprising retired Gauhati High Court Judge […]
SC seeks Centre’s reply on Jharkhand’s pleas against coal blocks auction for commercial mining
The Supreme Court Tuesday issued notice to the Centre on Jharkhand government’s pleas challenging its decision to auction coal blocks for commercial mining. A bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices R Subhash Reddy and A S Bopanna gave the Centre four weeks to reply to the writ petition and an original suit […]
Assam government to upgrade Dehing Patkai wildlife sanctuary to national park
The Assam government on Monday decided to upgrade Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary into a national park. The announcement comes just months after the National Board of Wildlife’s (NBWL) conditional clearance to a coal mining project by Coal India Limited (CIL) in the Dehing Patkai Elephant Reserve sparked a spate of virtual protests in the state. […]
After activists raise ecological concerns, Bander coal block struck off auction list
THE Union Ministry of Coal has decided to withdraw the Bander coal bock located in the close vicinity of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) from the list of coal blocks up for auction. The ministry put out a list of 41 coal blocks for auction on June 18. “We are withdrawing the Bander coal block from […]
Most coal blocks already allotted and surrendered as allottees ‘failed to develop within deadline’
Of the 41 blocks that Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced would be auctioned for commercial coal mining, 33 were previously allotted to public sector or private sector companies but later surrendered. Previously, coal blocks were only allotted to industries, such as power and steel industry, which use coal as an input. Experts noted that the […]
Bombay HC seeks replies from Centre, state, Coal India Limited within 8 weeks
The NAGPUR bench of Bombay High Court on Friday issued notices to the Union Environment Ministry, Coal Ministry, Coal India Limited, Maharashtra government and Chandrapur collector over the Centre’s listing Bander coal block near Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in Chandrapur district among several other coal blocks to be auctioned. The bench was hearing a PIL […]
Most coal blocks already allotted & surrendered as allottees ‘failed to develop within deadline’
Of the 41 blocks that Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced would be auctioned for commercial coal mining, 33 were previously allotted to public sector or private sector companies but later surrendered. Previously, coal blocks were only allotted to industries, such as power and steel industry, which use coal as an input. Experts noted that the […]
CIL: No plan to give up any blocks for commercial mining
Coal India Ltd (CIL) has no plans to give up any coal blocks for commercial mining, CIL Chairman Pramod Agrawal said on Thursday, noting that the PSU would continue to be viable in the competitive era of coal mining. The Centre had announced the commercialisation of coal as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat plan. Prime […]
Chhattisgarh asks Centre to exclude four blocks from commercial coal mining over environment concerns
Chhattisgarh Environment Minister Mohammad Akbar has written to the central government, requesting that coal blocks in the region of Hasdeo and Mand rivers and a proposed elephant reserve area in the state not be auctioned for environmental reasons. According to experts, there are four coal blocks — Mogra South, Mogra II, Sayang and Madanpur North […]