Union Govt. Makes Environment Clearance Easy For New Allottees Of Coal Mines

02 April, New Delhi

The Environment Ministry has allowed transfer of environment clearances granted to the previous allottees to new owners without any fresh approval. The decision will help expedite operations from the recently allocated coal mines.

The ministry has made amendments to previous notification in which it has allowed transfer of environment clearance to new coal block allottees without taking ‘no objection’ nod from previous owners.

Sources said, the changes have been brought as there were apprehensions among the new coal block allottees that old allottees may create problems in transferring environment clearance and thereby delaying the commencement of mining operations.

The Centre has recently auctioned 29 blocks in two phases. The auction followed the Supreme Court decision of cancelling 204 coal blocks last year.