Team News Riveting
Raigarh (Chhattisgarh), April 3
Keeping in mind the goal of sustainable development and energy conservation of the district, Gare Pelma 2 (GP 2) of Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (MAHAGENCO) has been given top priority to environmental balance and local participation in the coal mine project.
Along with this, employment and health welfare works are also being run in the area. Due to the delay in the project, many villages of project expansion are being deprived of many time due to the benefits of these public welfare schemes.
It is to be known that all legal and administrative procedures have been followed for this project, so that the balance between the local community, environment and industrial progress is maintained.
The consent of the Gram Sabha is mandatory to obtain forest approval from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEF & CC). The GP2 project has received the approval of Gram Sabha and Gram Panchayat in the year 2018 and 2019, following this process completely. These meetings were organized under the supervision of the Tehsildar and Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM). On November 28, 2019, the Raigad Collector handed over all the necessary documents to the government, which were later sent to the Chief Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Raipur.
Subsequently, in April 2022, with all the necessary approval, the proposal was sent to MOEF & CC. The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) of the Ministry granted Phase-I approval in May 2022 after intensive review of all documents and facts. No objection was lodged at any level for three years. In January 2023, the project received the final phase-II forest approval, and in July 2024 the approval was issued by the state government.
Following all the legal procedures related to environment, the project was also justified legally in the review of the National Green Tribunal (NGT). On January 15, 2024, the NGT in its order made it clear that forest approval and water exploitation permission is completely valid. Apart from this, there was no objection to forest approval even in the challenges raised on environmental acceptance (EC).
It is worth noting that the role of the PESA Act in relation to major minerals is limited, as minerals and mining activities come under the Central Mining Act, Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act).
The Gram Sabha has the right to recommend in the management of community resources, but the final decision of major mineral mining leases is taken by the state and central government. The mining lease provided after obtaining the consent of the Gram Sabha in the GP2 project makes it clear that there is no violation of the PESA Act.
This project will not only help in meeting Maharashtra’s energy requirements, but it will also increase the revenue of the state. Also, new employment opportunities will arise at the local level, which will strengthen the economic development of the villages.
Under the policies of the state and central government, it has been ensured that forest and environmental protection should be given priority in the operation of the project. The GP2 is an important step towards the goal of sustainable development, keeping in mind the project, transparency, following the interests of the local community
