Forest ministry seeks bar on 417 coal blocks

Of the 835 coal blocks surveyed, mining needs have to be partly restricted in 417 to safeguard the rivers. The coal ministry has objected to this and asked that the partial ban of mining should be limited to only 49 coal blocks.In order to pare down the list of restricted coal blocks, the coal ministry has asked the environment ministry to once again dilute the inviolate forest area policy, which has been in the works since the NDA government came to power. This time, the coal ministry wants mining to be allowed till river boundaries, leaving just 15 m of protected area.