MoEF gets deadline to give clearance to coal blocks

In an move to speed up clearances for coal blocks, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) have been given between four to six weeks to expedite Stage 1 and 2 forest and environment clearances for 42 coal blocks.

On behalf of the government, the Attorney General of India today informed the court that it will take about 4-6 weeks to either expedite the process of clearances or to go for its allocation.

Also read: CEA asks Tata, Hindalco others to speed up coal mine outputThere are 32 coal blocks which are allocated to the private companies which are pending because they have only got Stage 1 clearances; about 10 coal blocks allotted to private companies again have got Stage 2 environment or forest clearances.

The government has promised that it will either cancel it or expedite the process of the clearances because of which these coal mines are not functional.