Maharashtra minister Vijay Wadettiwar said that the state government would oppose the Centre's proposal to conduct coal mining near Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in Chandrapur district, as it would "destroy" the habitat of tigers.
Bander coal block, located near TATR, is one of the 41 mining sites in the country for which the Center has invited auction bids. According to the Forest Department, the Bander coal block falls under the Bramhapuri Forest Division in Chimur Tehsil.
It is located very adjacent to the boundary buffer zone of the TATR. Addressing a press conference here, Wadettiwar, Minister of Relief and Rehabilitation, said, "The state government will definitely oppose the proposed mining of Bander coal mine listed in the Central government's e- auction."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the auction process of 41 coal blocks for commercial mining last week.
"There is presence of six tigers in the area where Bander coal mining e-auction is proposed. The mining activities will destroy the corridor of these six tigers," he said.
"State Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray had already expressed his displeasure over the issue...We will never allow coal mining at Bander and there will be no negotiations on the issue," Wadettiwar, who also serves as the district guardian minister of Chandrapur, said.
TATR is an internationally renowned tiger reserve, which attracts tourists from all over the world. On the issue of water availability in Chandrapur, Wadettiwar asked the irrigation department officials to ensure that all weirs in the district had good storage facilities. He instructed officials to use new technology to plan the measures in such a way that existing weirs would store maximum water for both the Kharif and the Rabi seasons. The Minister said the government would set up a center to train and guide cotton growers in the district.
