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n a major setback to Adani Powers, the principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) has rejected its proposal for operating a captive
coal mine in the vicinity of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) for its 1000 MW power plant in Gondia, home town of civil aviation minister Praful Patel.

Additional chief secretary (revenue and forest) J P Dange on Monday confirmed that his office had received a comprehensive report from the PCCF, saying Adani Powers should not be allotted the 1750 hectare coal block. "We have received the report. It will be placed before the forest minister Babanrao Pachpute as well as chief minister Ashok Chavan for their opinion,'' Dange said.

A senior official said the PCCF has made it clear that if Adani Powers is granted permission to operate a captive open-cast coal mine for its proposed thermal plant, it will have an adverse impact on the environment, particularly on the TATR near Chandrapur.

As per the rules, once a proposal for allotment of a coal block is submitted to the Centre, it seeks the PCCF's opinion on its impact on the environment before further processing the application. In its proposal, Adani Powers has submitted a comprehensive mining plan, rehabilitation plan and wildlife conservation plan to the ministry of environment and forest.

A week ago, Pachpute had told TOI that till the PCCF submits the report, it will be premature to comment on the on-going agitation against the multicrore power project, while Praful Patel had taken the view that a right balance should be struck between environment and development. "We expect that the CM and Pachpute will take a decision on the PCCF recommendations within a week and submit the report to the Centre,'' a senior forest official said.

Barring Praful Patel, all MPs from Vidarbha led by Congress MP Vilas Muttemwar have opposed the proposal for allocation of the coal mine block on the ground that its operation would cause colossal damage to the rich biodiversity in and around TATR and seriously endanger the very existence of tigers in the reserve, rated as the best in India in terms of tiger population.