BackCIL wants immunity from prosecution
Firm wants govt to grant its employees immunity from prosecution for violation of green norms in mining projects
Premium(Aniruddha Chowdhury/Mint)
New Delhi: State-owned Coal India Ltd (CIL) wants the government to grant its employees immunity from prosecution for violation of environmental norms while executing mining projects. The proposal could be yet another issue over which the coal and environment ministries clash.
The coal ministry has appended this demand to a note that’s to come up before the cabinet committee on investment on Wednesday.
“We have sought exemptions in national interest," said a top coal ministry official, who didn’t want to be named. “Because of compelling reasons, some executives had exceeded their limits and violated norms. Since this was not for personal gain, they should not be prosecuted."
CIL sent the recommendation to the coal ministry in the past fortnight, he said.
The environment ministry, on the other hand, wants the CIL executives to be held accountable.
A top environment ministry official said 12 coal mining projects are likely to be presented before the cabinet committee on investment for green clearances in the meeting on Wednesday. Most of these projects are coal blocks allocated to CIL and involve investments exceeding ₹ 1,347 crore.
“The environment ministry is saying that there is nothing pending on our part, but there are a few violations which need to be taken care of," this official said, also declining to be identified. “The question is why should CIL officials not be accountable? The coal ministry has put this request as a part of the cabinet note before CCI (cabinet committee on investment)."
The environment ministry, in a list released earlier this month, pointed to violations by Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd, a CIL subsidiary, in seven coal blocks allotted to the company.
The coal and environment ministries have been on a collision course for a while now, reflecting the conflict over the imperatives of development and ecological protection.
The two ministries were unable to come to a consensus on clearance for the Morga-II coal block in Chhattisgarh during an inter-ministerial meeting on Monday, Mint reported on Tuesday. The two ministries have also been at loggerheads over the issue of so-called “violate" and “inviolate" areas for mining in the country. Mining and other industrial activities will be allowed in “violate" forest areas, but not in “inviolate" zones.
Violate and inviolate forest areas are new classifications suggested by the environment ministry after the so-called “go" and “no-go" classification was challenged by many ministries, including the coal ministry, which had said it didn’t have a legal mandate.
The meeting of the cabinet committee on investment on Wednesday will be chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and will also deliberate on steps to expedite three critical rail projects.
The panel was formed in December to ensure speedy clearances for large infrastructure projects involving investments exceeding 1,000 crore.
CIL is struggling to meet domestic demand for coal, especially from power and steel companies, and needs the cabinet committee on investment’s clearances to be able to raise its production levels.
Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
