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Journalism of Courage
The Ravanwara North coal block of SKS Ispat,which is linked to Union minister Subodh Kant Sahais brother Sudhir Kant Sahai had failed to meet most of the stipulated milestones compelling the coal ministrys inter-ministerial group (IMG) to recommend de-allocation of the mine.
The IMG,which is chaired by the ministrys additional secretary Zohra Chatterji in its meeting on September 15 observed that despite five years having elapsed from the date of allotment on May 29,2007 the firm is yet to make any serious efforts in developing it.
Besides it lost two years and eight months in the ascertaining the geological reserves on account of protracted correspondence with the coal ministry. While SKS Ispats mining plan was approved in September 2010,its environment clearance and forest clearance are yet to be ensured.
No land has been acquired yet. The company has an existing end-use plant,however,additional capacity linked to the block has not yet come up. No investment is reported on the end use plant, according to the minutes of the IMGs meeting. However,according to data furnished by SKS Ispat,it has invested Rs 55 crore.
The firm did try to plead its case before the IMG arguing that the coal block has been categorised to be a part of a tiger corridor and processing of applications have stopped and fresh Terms of Reference has only been issued on November 30,2011.
The IMG did not accept this contention,saying that the issue of buffer zone came up later and time was lost in ensuring the geological reserves.
