Coal ministry over-rode environment ministry and its mining experts to do away with ban on mining in the densest forests in the country
When auctions fail, the Centre decides if lone bidders should get the coal mines anyway. Twelve private companies have benefited so far, including the Adani Group
Nitin Sethi
The Collective’s investigation reveals the Union government gave away coal blocks to private companies based on its discretion, undermining the landmark 2014 Supreme court order and the coal reforms it had unveiled. The Centre also gave into lobbying by power companies to open up the densest forests for mining, defying environment ministry
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