MoEF's nod for coal mining in tiger corridor raises eyebrows

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MOEF'S NOD FOR COAL MINING IN TIGER CORRIDOR RAISES EYEBROWS

Monday, April 29, 2013

The recent clearance by Forest Advisory Committee (FAC)
under Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) to divert
115.685 hectares of reserved forest land in the crucial
Pench- Satpuda Tiger corridor has kicked up a
controversy.

The FAC's decision has come in favour of Pushp Steel and
Mining Private Limited for underground coal mining in
Brahmpuri coal block in Pench Kanha coalfield in
Chhindwara district of MP. Earlier, MoEF had also allowed
coal mining in the three km wide stretch in between the
two reserves in the same district with some restrictions.

Experts pointed out that big cat populations will be
divided into groups if their habitat is fragmented. This
can lead to inbreeding and a genetic bottleneck,
affecting their long-term survival. The sources in MoEF,
however, argued that the decision has been taken after
due consultations with NTCA and WII and delineating the
tiger corridor.

A NBWL member pointed out that considering the importance
of tiger conservation such projects should not be given
priority. The area is one of the biggest passages for
wildlife to move from one forest to another and has 12
coal blocks.

Such a step will fragment the Satpura-Maikal landscape of
central India which is one of the largest natural habitat
of tigers in the world, he added. The proposed coal mines
would impede gene flow and impact the future of species.
It is important to conserve a whole landscape, rather
than piecemeal protected areas, to ensure a better chance
for long-term persistence of these and other species, he
stressed.

Gopal Thosar, conservationist from Maharashtra, pointed
out that though underground mining was less harmful than
opencast, it does not totally rule out the risk. Though
the project proponents may claim to use the latest
technology to mitigate the loss, but such norms are
seldom abided by.

The sources in MoEF, however, clarified �a boundary of
the migratory corridor between Pench and Satpura reserve
has already been drawn up and Brahmpuri coal block is not
within this said migratory corridor�.

They further added that proposals undertaking mining in
any of the coal blocks located in this region will be
decided on their merit and if approved it will be with
additional condition that the user agency will contribute
on proportionate basis the amount required for the
implementation of the plan as prepared by NTCA for
rejuvenating and restocking of the viable corridor.

More at:

http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/moefs-nod-for-coal-mining-in-tiger-corridor-raises-eyebrows.html

Jai Maharaj, Jyotishi
Om Shanti

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.fan.jai-maharaj

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