Odisha CS For Comprehensive Wildlife Management Plan In Coal Block Areas

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Saturday directed the officials to expedite the preparation of a comprehensive wildlife management plan for newly allotted coal block areas with a focus on mitigating the adverse impact of mining.

The direction was given by Chief Secretary S C Mahapatra while reviewing the status of forest clearance and wildlife management in newly allotted coal block areas of Angul district in a high level meeting held on hybrid mode from Lokseba Bhawan conference hall.

Additional Chief Secretary Forest and Environment Satyabrata Sahu outlined the issues for discussion in the meeting, an official release said.

Discussions in the meeting showed that the newly allotted coal blocks included the major areas like Utkal E coal, Radhikapur East Coal, Radhikapur West coal, and Naini coal blocks.

Their probable impact areas included Chhendipada, Kaniha, Jarpada ranges of Angul division, and Reamal range of Deogarh division, it said.

The Chief Secretary directed the officials concerned to work out a comprehensive plan for protection and conservation of wildlife, and mitigation of the adverse impact of coal mining on movement of elephants.

It was decided that the comprehensive plan will be prepared through national level institutes like Wildlife Institute of India or Indian institute of Science. Chief Secretary Mahapatra emphasised that the plan should be prepared as per national guidelines in a time bound manner.

Principal Secretary Steel and Mines Deo Ranjan Kumar Singh, Principal Chief Conservators of Forests (HoFF) Debidatta Biswal, PCCF Wildlife, Chief Conservator of Wildlife along with senior officers of concerned departments participated in the discussion. Collector and DFO, Angul appraised the field situation over video conference.