All proposals for "forest clearance" under Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 requires careful mitigation planning. Including Reclamation Plan, Safety Zone Management Plan. Landscape Plan, Wildlife Habitat Management Plan. Determination of Eco-restoration Ratio.

1. Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 –
Mitigation Planning & Ecorestoration Ratio
By
Ravindra Nath Saxena
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests,
Madhya Pradesh

2. • The Section-3(2) provides that, notwithstanding anything contained
in FCA; the Central Government shall provide for diversion of forest
land for following facilities managed by the Government ; which
involve felling of trees not exceeding 75 trees per hectare.
• Schools, Dispensary or Hospital, Aanganwadi, Fair Price Shops,
electric and telecommunication lines, tanks and other minor wate
bodies, drinking water supply and water pipelines, water or rain
water harvesting structures, minor irrigation canals, non-
conventional sources of energy, skill upgradation and vocational
training centres, roads, and community centres.
• The forest land can be diverted with 2 riders –
A. The diverted land should be less than 1 ha. in each case.
B. The diversion project has been recommended by Gram Sabha.
Scheduled Tribe & Other Forest Dweller (Recognition of
Forest Right) Act and diversion of forest land for
community purposes

3. • Ministry of Tribal affairs, GOI vide Circular No. 23011/15/2008-S.G.II dated
18th May, 2009 has issued instructions under Section-3(2) for seeking prior
approval:
A. Every user agency shall apply in “Form-A” and place it
before General Assembly of Gram Sabha.
B. The quorum of 50% should be present and adopt the resolution.
C. After obtaining consent of Gram Sabha – the user agency shall
submit proposal to Range Officer.
D. Range Officer shall inspect the site and record comments for
diversion of the area and submit proposal to DFO (in Form-B)
E. The DFO shall decide matter within 4 weeks and inform Range
Officer and District Level Committee (DLC). RO would demand area
and hand over to user agency. In case of rejection of proposal final
decision shall be taken by (DLC).
F. Land diverted for a specific purpose shall not to be allowed to be used
for any other purpose.
G. The DFO shall furnish information to Nodal Officer, then compiled data
shall be routed through Secretary, Tribal Welfare to Ministry of Tribal
Affairs. GOI.

4. Satellite Imagery map depicting protected area, wildlife
activity areas and compensatory afforestation sites

5. Salient features of original & revised FCA proposal of
Tara Coal Block
A. The CGMDC application seeking diversion of 2301.260 ha. of forest land for opencast
coal mining in Tara Coal Block of Hasdeo - Arand Coalfields in South Surguja Forest
Division, (Case No. : SAR/SAR/S.SAR/MIN/2007/ 242) forwarded vide letter dated 25th
May, 2009 to Ministry of Environment & Forests.
B. MOEF, Government of India vide letter dated 24th February, 2010 informed the
Government of Chhattisgarh that
“After detailed discussion, the FAC did not recommend the proposal as
number of trees to be felled was very high, which did not justify diversion
from the conservation point of view.”
C. In order to have the least impact on ecology of the area and to reduce the number of
felling of trees a revised proposal was worked out considering the following aspects
 To minimize the felling of trees the mining is planned mainly in the non-
forest areas, open forest and moderately dense forest areas.
 Dense forest areas (0.5 crown density and above) has been excluded to
maximum possible extent.; dense forest areas have been reduced by 61%.
 Geographical area reduced from 2778.19ha. to 1801.31ha. The mine shall
be operated for 30 years instead of 45 years.
 Accordingly, a revised FCA proposal submitted in June, 2011

6. S.
No
Particulars Units
Original
Proposal
Revised
Proposal
Remark
1 Very Dense Forest Ha NIL NIL -
2
Protected forest
(Medium density)
Ha 1999.82 777.85 Reduced by 61%
3
B-Protected forest
(Blank, US, Misc.,
Encroachment)
Ha 0 245.09
Forest areas have been
encroached, degraded
after ST&OFD(RFR) Act,
2006
4
Total protected forest
area
Ha 1999.82 1022.94 Reduced by 48.5%
5 Revenue forest area Ha 301.44 301.44 -
6 Private & Govt land Ha 476.93 476.93 -
7 Total area Ha 2778.18 1801.31 -
8 Total Tree Felling No. 846043 117643
Drastic reduction in tree
fellings; trees upto 60 cms.
girth shall be transplanted
9 Extractable Reserve MMT 252.08 180 -
10 Annual Target Capacity MMT 6.00 6.00 -
11 Ruling Coal Grade E E -

7. S.
No.
Compar-
tment
No.
Area
required
(in ha.)
Blanks
(in ha.)
Under-
stocked
(in ha.)
Miscellane
ous
(in ha.)
Encroach
ments
(in ha.)
Total
degraded
areas
4+5+6+7
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
1. P-1932 64.541 18.0856 4.2330 - - 22.3186
2. P-1977 17.255 3.5030 - - - 3.5030
3. P-1978 4.739 3.3612 - - - 3.3612
4. P-1979 34.647 9.8789 - - - 9.8789
5. P-1982 100.938 13.1044 4.4539 - - 17.5583
6. P-1983 242.550 - 29.2904 - 3.7465 33.0369
7. P-1984 187.311 9.0475 13.6400 - 1.5657 24.2532
8. P-1985 83.126 28.1496 11.1997 7.5615 - 46.9108
9. P-1986 47.623 32.1957 9.7868 - 2.4522 44.4347
10. P-1992 170.580 4.7204 23.5279 - - 28.2483
11. P-1993 56.173 - 4.0233 - 3.1330 7.1563
12. P-1997 13.447 - 4.4280 - - 4.4280
Total 1022.940 122.0463 104.5830 7.5615 10.8974 245.0882
Blanks, under-stocked and encroachments in
revised proposal

8. Phase-wise trees to be felled & seedlings being planted
Phase Felling of Trees
above 60 cms girth
Transplantatio
n of
Plants below
60 cms girth
Plantation of
new seedlings
Phase - I (0 to 5 years) 27498 14877 150000
Phase - II (6 to 10 years) 27147 18571 200000
Phase - III (11 to 15 years) 21901 12158 200000
Phase - IV (16 to 20 years) 25355 12225 200000
Phase - V (21 to 25 years) 7098 5393 200000
Phase - VI (26 to 30 years) 8644 6888 200000
Total 117643 70112 1150000
Average (per annum) 3921 2337 38333
Note - Approximately 9.78 times seedlings shall be planted in comparison of tree felling
in the very first year of operation. Four nurseries (2 ha each) shall be developed in
consultation with CG Forest Department to ensure supply of quality planting material
(QPM) for mitigation planning measures.

9. Growing stock in original FCA application of Tara Coal Block
Weighted average of the growing stock - 99658.637 cmt. / 2035.490 ha.
48.96 cmt.per ha.
Harvesting of growing stock per year – 99658.637/ 45
2214.636 cmt.per annum
Growing stock in revised FCA application of Tara Coal Block
Weighted average of the growing stock - 58580.00 cmt./ 1331.262.490 ha.
44.00 cmt.per ha.
Harvesting of growing stock per year – 58580.010 / 25
1952.67 cmt.per annum
The felling of growing stock in diversion area has been drastically reduce by reduction in
better site quality & high density areas and effective mitigation planning by way of
transplanting of trees upto 60cms girth and phase-wise fellings.
In order to reduce number of felling of trees, under the revised proposal it is proposed that
approx. 70112 plants below 60 cms girth ( 20 cmsdia) shall be transplanted in the safety
zone with the help of state of the art transplanting technology by M/s Big John.
The Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India vide F No. 8-38/2009-FC
dated 5th July, 2011 has accorded Stage-I “forest clearance” under Section-2(ii) of Forest
(Conservation) Act, 1980.

10. • The Sal crop mostly conform to middle to mature crop,
i.e. “pre-selection girth classes” – and achieving
senescence very fast.
• Increasing incidence of Chhind (Phoenix sylvestris),
signifies drying of the site, this precarious condition
may lead to susceptibility to dry-rot in Sal and ultimate
crop senescence.
• The “M.P. Sal Yield Table” substantiate crop longevity
projections (average crop diameter 11.6” to 13.4”-
conforming to age from 100 to 125 years) - most of
middle aged to mature crop may die within 40 - 50
years due to senescence. The video-film of Tara Timber
Depot can be screened that most of the Sal crop is
suffering from ‘Dry Rot’.
Typical characteristics of Sal crop in Tara Landscape

11. Projected future of trees in various girth classes
S.
No
Type of area Number of
trees below 60
cms.
Number of trees above 60 cms. Total
Number
of trees
1. Protected forests 63460 103893 167353
2. Revenue forests 6652 13750 20403
Total 70112 117643 187756
3.
Status of future of
trees in next 30
years in Tara Coal
Block
70112 trees
are being
transplanted
There are 43299 trees in “pre-selection girth classes”
shall achieve selection girth in next 30 years. Tara Coal
Block is having 15184 trees above “selection girth” of
150 cms.; achieved “economic rotation” and eligible
for felling.
4.
Net impact of tree
felling in 30 years in
Tara Coal Block
No impact on
70112 trees,
since these are
being
transplanted
About 58483 trees are in either “pre-selection” or
“selection girth classes”. eligible for felling in current
working plan or become eligible for felling in next 2
working plans (total period 30 years).
187756
5.
Net number of
trees to be felled
due to Tara Coal
Project
There are 187756 trees – 70112 trees being
transplanted, 58483 trees shall be harvested in next
30 years in working plans. The impact felling of Tara
Coal Bloc is 59161 trees or 1972 (59161 trees / 30
years) trees per annum.
59161

12. Regional Eco-restoration Measures Planned
S.
No.
Activity Area of
activity
(in ha.)
Number of
seedlings
per ha.
Total
number of
seedlings
Remark
1. Reclamation of OBD
in “diversion area”
1801.31 1600 28,82,096 Multi-tier
reclamation
2. Compensatory
Afforestation
1301.19 1600 20,81,904 Medium density
plantation
3. Landscape
Management Plan
2200.00 2500 55,00,000 High density
eco-restoration
4. Tara Wildlife
Management Plan
3000.00 2500 75,00,000 High density
fodder plots
5. Safety Zone 39.73 2500 99,325 High density
with SMC works
Total 1,80,63,325
Note - A. Approximately 34.57 times seedlings shall be planted in the very first phase .
B. Total tree felling in 30 years – 117643
C. Total seedling plantation – 1,80, 63,325
D. Eco-restoration ratio – 1: 153.54

13. “Reclamation & Safety Zone Management Plan”
• Having adequate prescriptions to take care of adverse impact of
coal mining on the site.
• The Tara Coal Block shall be protected against soil erosion, siltation
of adjoining water bodies by profuse deployment of Gabion
structures, retaining walls, geo-textiles to reduce soil erosion.
• With the passage of time (mine operation period 1 to 15 years)
Gabion structure shall be constructed on the South side of Tara
Coal Block to stop any possible escape of overburden.
• The ultimate water body shall have depth of 10 meters. The wall of
this water body shall be strengthened by “retaining walls”.
• The catchment area of this water body shall be just 1400ha.; thus
there would be no possibility of bursting of earthen dam even in
torrential rains.
• To take care of escape of silt an additional “Silt Settling Pond” is
planned, to reduce chances of escape of overburden.

14. Map of Tara Coal Block exhibiting opening of opencast mine
in Ist Year

15. Map of Tara Coal Block exhibiting opening of opencast
mine in Ist Year and progression of mine upto Xth year

16. Map of Tara Coal Block exhibiting opening of opencast mine
in Ist Year and progression of mine upto XXth year

17. Map of Tara Coal Block exhibiting final stage dump
after closure activities

18. Photographs of Reclamation Planning
Contouring of outer OBD Angle of Repose

19. The advance growth of 5th to 10th year shall be shifted to
the technically reclaimed site of 0 to 5th year. And this
process shall be repeated for subsequent VI phases as well.
The technology for shifting of small trees to short distance is
available.
Since Surguja is having rainfall range of 1200-1500 m.m., the
shifting and survival of small trees shall not be a problem.

20. Use of geo-textile along with
Stylosanthus scabra

21. Use of geo-textile along with Stylosanthus scabra and
Acacia auriculiformis

22. Step 1 : Pit digging
Tree Transplantation

23. Step 2 : Soil shifting
Tree Transplantation

24. Step 3 : Removing the tree, to be transplanted
Tree Transplantation

25. Step 4 : Shifting of tree
Tree Transplantation

26. Step 5 : Fixing the tree in pit
Tree Transplantation

27. Thanks for your kind Attention