The Adani Mining Private Limited’s isn’t the only company awaiting clearance to mine coal in the dense forest cover around the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR).
Five companies have been allotted coal blocks in the area. Environmentalists say, this will be the death-knell for the tiger reserve.
The major coal blocks here are are the Agarzari Coal Block and Lohara (East). The latter was allotted to ACC in 1999, but which was overturned by the union ministry of environment and forests (MOEF) for being too close to TATR. This block has now been allotted to the Murli Agro Products Limited and Grace Industries Limited.
Swanand Sovani of the Shrushti Paryavaran Mandal, a Nagpur-based environmental group, said earlier no mining permission was for Lohara (East).
Government information says the coal reserve of the area is 309.832 metric tonnes. SM Chopne, president of Green Planet, a Chandrapur- based NGO, said other companies are waiting for the Adani project to be approved before starting their own work.
“If allowed, mining activities will destroy over 17,000 hectare of rich forest cover in the region,” he said.
