Reliance gets approval on the Chhatrasal mine for Sasan

The Chhatrasal coal mine allotted to Reliance Power’s 4,000 MW Sasan thermal power project in Madhya Pradesh has received forest clearance.

“Chhatrasal coal block, one of the three captive coal blocks allotted to Sasan Power Ltd in 2006, has received forest clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forest,” said a source.

When contacted, Reliance Power spokesperson confirmed that the forest clearance has been received for the Chhatrasal coal block, attached to the Sasan project.

The other two coal mines allocated for firing the Sasan project are Moher and Moher Amlohri extension.

An expert committee set up by the Environment Ministry to look into the issue of forest clearance for certain coal blocks, in its report had suggested forest clearance for the Chhatrasal coal block, subject to certain conditions.

In May, the report was accepted by the Group of Ministers (GoM), constituted to consider the environmental  and development issues relating to coal mining.

The GoM had recommended forest clearance to Chhatrasal coal block subject to certain conditions.

The block has coal reserves of about 160 million tonnes and a peak rated capacity of 5 million tonnes per annum.

The first 660 MW unit of Sasan UMPP is about to be commissioned by January.