New coal mine cleared in 'high conservation zone' Hasdeo forest, Pg9

Key Highlights:

• RVUNL received in-principle approval to clear 1,742.6 hectares of Hasdeo Arand forest for a new coal mine.
• The Kente Extension Coal Block (KECB) will be mined by the Adani Group to supply coal to RVUNL's power plants in Rajasthan.
• The project involves felling 4.48 lakh trees, to be carried out in phases, with mining also restricted in initial stages.
• The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) granted the approval despite opposition from tribal and civil society groups.

Detailed Insights:

• The Hasdeo Arand forest is classified as a 'high' conservation zone and has already seen the opening of Parsa Coal Block (PCB) and Parsa East Kente Basan (PEKB) mines.
• RVUNL justifies the new mine to meet the coal demand of its 7830 MW thermal power plants, requiring 24.05 MT of coal annually, with a 9 MT shortfall from existing blocks.
• The FAC has mandated phased mining, restricting the initial phase to 1001.95 hectares for 10 years, linking the second phase to reforestation efforts.
• Compensatory afforestation is planned on 3,233.3 hectares of degraded forest land, including 636 hectares of orange forest, to offset the loss of forest cover.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Compensatory Afforestation: Reforestation efforts to compensate for forest land diverted for non-forest purposes.
• In-Principle Approval: Initial clearance granted to a project, subject to fulfillment of specific conditions.
• Captive Coal Block: Coal mine allocated to a specific end-use plant, ensuring dedicated coal supply.