+
Chhattisgarh’s nod for coal block auction raises environmental worries
COAL & MINING

Chhattisgarh’s nod for coal block auction raises environmental worries

The Chhattisgarh government’s approval of auction for 17 of the state's 18 coal blocks identified by the central government has raised wildlife environmental concerns.

Activists believe the approval was given although there has been no increase in coal demand.

Agriculture minister and government spokesperson Ravindra Chaubey told the media that due to the presence of a major human settlement in the area, Barra was exempted from the auction.

The decision to remove the Barra coal block from the list was made at the request of public representatives and ministers, Chaubey told the media.

Chhattisgarh produces around 150 million tonnes of coal per year and has 58,589 million tonnes of reserves, according to official data. The 17 blocks are located in the forest divisions of Dharamjaigarh, Sarguja, Surajpur, and Koriya, and are expected to produce around 8,000 million tonnes of coal.

A large forest area falls under the region where the blocks are located, according to MSTC Limited, the company that is conducting the auctions for the Centre. According to the company's website, the coal blocks cover 15 % to 40 % of forest land. The area is crossed by tributaries of the Atem, Mahan, Pajhar Nadi, and Kelo rivers.

Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan convener Alok Shukla told the media that the state government should have opposed commercial mining because the state is already suffering from environmental destruction and displacement. Because of the low rates, Shukla added, the state government will not receive any additional revenue.

Image Source


Also read: Govt gets bids for 19 coal mines in commercial mining auction

Also read: Coal mine auctions: Commercial tranche 2 gains traction

The Chhattisgarh government’s approval of auction for 17 of the state's 18 coal blocks identified by the central government has raised wildlife environmental concerns. Activists believe the approval was given although there has been no increase in coal demand. Agriculture minister and government spokesperson Ravindra Chaubey told the media that due to the presence of a major human settlement in the area, Barra was exempted from the auction. The decision to remove the Barra coal block from the list was made at the request of public representatives and ministers, Chaubey told the media. Chhattisgarh produces around 150 million tonnes of coal per year and has 58,589 million tonnes of reserves, according to official data. The 17 blocks are located in the forest divisions of Dharamjaigarh, Sarguja, Surajpur, and Koriya, and are expected to produce around 8,000 million tonnes of coal. A large forest area falls under the region where the blocks are located, according to MSTC Limited, the company that is conducting the auctions for the Centre. According to the company's website, the coal blocks cover 15 % to 40 % of forest land. The area is crossed by tributaries of the Atem, Mahan, Pajhar Nadi, and Kelo rivers. Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan convener Alok Shukla told the media that the state government should have opposed commercial mining because the state is already suffering from environmental destruction and displacement. Because of the low rates, Shukla added, the state government will not receive any additional revenue. Image Source Also read: Govt gets bids for 19 coal mines in commercial mining auction Also read: Coal mine auctions: Commercial tranche 2 gains traction

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

KONE Opens India's First Digital Experience Centre in Pune

KONE, a global elevator and escalator manufacturer, has inaugurated its first Digital Experience Centre (DEC) in India, located in Pune. The facility aims to showcase how artificial intelligence (AI), connectivity and data-driven technologies can enhance customer experiences and improve building operations.The centre was inaugurated by Jussi Herlin, Executive Vice Chair, KONE Corporation; Philippe Delorme, President and CEO, KONE; and Nandan Nilekani, Co-founder and Chairman of the Board, Infosys.Designed as an interactive customer environment, the facility demonstrates digital solutions cover..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

CII GreenCo Launches Circularity Guidelines for Indian Industry

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) GreenCo Council has launched the CII GreenCo Circularity Guidelines – Pilot Version at the 17th CII GreenCo Waste & Resource Management Summit 2026 in Chennai. The initiative aims to strengthen resource efficiency, waste reduction and circular economy practices across Indian manufacturing and process industries.The guidelines introduce a structured framework with circularity indices covering raw materials, consumables, packaging and other resource inputs. These indicators will help industries assess existing practices, identify opportunities to ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

Global Electronics Association Launches IPC-1783-CO2E Standard

The Global Electronics Association has introduced IPC-1783-CO2E, a new international standard aimed at improving consistency, transparency and comparability in product carbon footprint reporting across the electronics manufacturing industry.The standard, titled International Standard for Data Collection and Reporting of CO2 Equivalent (CO2e) Emissions for the Electronics Manufacturing Supply Chain, provides industry-specific guidance for collecting, estimating and reporting carbon emissions data.With increasing regulatory requirements and customer expectations, electronics manufacturers face c..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code