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MSS argues the proposed coal mine in Madhya Pradesh will destroy the livelihood of more than 50,000 villagers from more than 54 villages, the Business Standard reports.
“A proposed Gram Sabha or any other democratic process cannot be held in a repressive atmosphere,” the paper quotes MSS member Priya Pillai as saying.
Mahan Coal, the JV between Essar and Aditya Birla, condemned the MSS move saying that some people and institutions with vested interests were publishing misleading statements relating to the company and the project.
The company’s coal mines are to be on the periphery of the Mohan Forest Reserves.
According to the Business Standard they will take up only 9.8sq.km of the total forest area of 925.3sq.km.
Essar is setting up a power plant while Hindalco, which is promoting the coal project, is building what it says will be the world’s largest alumina smelter in the Singrauli district.
Mahan coal mines will feed both plants.
