Project operator Mahan Coal is a joint venture between Essar Power and Aditya Birla Group’s flagship Hindalco Industries.

It is predicted that coal mined at the Mahan project will fuel power plants set up by Essar and Hindalco separately for a minimum of 14 years.

More than 500,000 trees on 967 hectares of forest land will be cut over a decade to make way for expanding operations.

The district forest officer from the state told NGT that the process of segregation and listing of the trees was underway and the first phase of deforestation would begin only in October once the monsoons were over.

The first phase is set to clear 297ha.

"As a law-abiding corporate citizen, we are optimistic that we will create a benchmark in sustainable and inclusive development by taking care of environment while starting the mine at the earliest,” Mahan Coal CEO Ramakant Tiwari told Indian newspaper The Economic Times.

Mahan Sangharsh Samiti, a local group formed with the help of Greenpeace, is protesting against the deforestation, claiming it will lead to the destruction of the livelihoods of 50,000 tribal people dependent on the forest.

MSS challenged the clearance by the NGT, claiming the decision to approve the project was hasty and full of irregularities.

Greenpeace India viewed the assurance as a temporary relief.

"This is a temporary respite for us," MSS spokesman Hardayal Sing said.

“We are determined to save our forests and will continue to oppose any mining-related activities in our forest.”

The next hearing in the case will take place on July 23.

Greenpeace is alleging Mahan forged signatures during the mandatory gram sabha resolution, for which approval of villagers was sought.