The issues relating to coal exploration from Mandakini coal mines have been put on fast track by the State Government on Thursday.Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy reviewed the issues over a digital meeting here.
Principal Secretary Steel & Mines Surendra Kumar outlined various contours of the issues for discussion.
The matters relating to conduct of Socio-Economic Survey (SES), processing of forest diversion proposal, getting environmental clearances from statutory authority in Government of India, drilling activities by Central Mine Planning & Design Institute to for estimating resource quality and preparation of scientific mining plan etc were discussed in the meeting.
Listening to the people’s concerns, the Chief Secretary directed the Angul Collector to prepare a comprehensive rehabilitation package as per provisions of the coal bearing area development act and rehabilitation policy of the State.
“Odisha’s rehabilitation policy is a very dynamic and progressive policy, and, proper packaging of the compensation awards would be beneficial to the people,” he said.
The mine developing authorities were asked to design rehabilitation package as per local requirement in consultation with district authorities.
Further, he directed the Collector, Superintendent of Police, and concerned Tahasildar to communicate directly with the people likely to be affected without any middle man and explain them properly about the rehabilitation package and proper housing with basic infrastructure facilities in rehabilitation sites.
Additional Chief Secretary Forest and Environment Mona Sharma appraised that in the meanwhile the forest diversion proposal was prepared.
It would be sent to Union Ministry of Forest and Environment in the coming week.
Mr.Kumar apprised that Nabkrushna Choudhury Center for Development Studies made the pre-study preparations for socio-economic survey.
It was decided to start SES and non- coal proving operations in the coming week.
Director Mines, Debidatta Biswal, Collector Angul Siddhartha Shankar Swain, SP Angul Jagmohan Meena, CMD NTPC Gurdeep Singh along with senior officers from concerned departments participated in the discussions.