India clears forest land for coal mines in Odisha and Chhattisgarh

India’s Forest Advisory Committee gave in‑principle clearance to divert about 750 ha of forest in Odisha’s Angul district for the Alakananda coal block owned by Rungta Sons Pvt Ltd. The approval, granted on 7 July, foresees the felling of over 330,000 trees and the displacement of 818 families, with a total of 1,584 families across five villages affected. The project lies near the Similipal‑Satkosia tiger corridor, the Sambalpur elephant reserve and several wildlife habitats, prompting the committee to require a 50‑metre safety barrier along nearby rivers and a regional wildlife‑management plan.

The Ministry’s empowered committee also cleared 1,954.35 ha of forest for mining in Chhattisgarh and Odisha. In Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh district, approvals were granted for Ambuja Cements’ Purunga underground coal block (621.331 ha) and South Eastern Coalfields’ Pelma open‑cast mine (362.109 ha). In Odisha, Tata Steel received clearance for the Gandhalpada iron‑ore block (216.875 ha) and the Alakananda coal lease (754.039 ha). All projects must comply with conditions such as compensatory afforestation, payment of net‑present‑value fees, and prior approval before any land alteration or mining activity.