TS states' stance on open cast coal mining sought

Hyderabad: The National Green Tribunal at Delhi on Thursday directed the Union ministry of environment and forests, TS government and Singareni Collieries Company Ltd to spell out their stand on an application against the open cast coal mining in Jayashankar Bhupalapally district. A four-member bench comprising Justices Jawad Rahim, Raghuvendra S. Rathore, S.P. Wangdi and Dr Satyawan Singh Garbyal, expert member, was dealing with an application by Na-gavelli Rajalingamurthy, a resident of Jangedu village of the district.

Mr K. Sravan Kumar, counsel appearing for the applicant, submitted that Singareni Collieries had taken up open cast mining in violation of the condition stipulated in the Environmental Clearance and it has been not taking precautions with regard to blasting, transportation of muck that was being done in uncovered trucks and this was resulting in serious pollution and damage to the habitations. The bench issued notices to the parties concerned and directed them to file their counter affidavits.

He told the Tribunal that open cast mining affected the integrity of the water bodies, agricultural land and caused huge air and noise pollution which was resulting in related deaths and illnesses and the blackening of groundwater and damage to the houses. The Union ministry of environment and forests, Chief Secretary of Telangana government, Singareni Collieries, Central Pollution Control Board and Telangana State Pollution Control Board and