Greenpeace India campaigner Priya Pillai alleged that the Environment Ministry's decision to grant forest clearance to the Mahan coal block in Singrauli district is "appalling".
"The communities living in the forest have written more than once to the Ministry on the need to address their rights on the forest which has had not happened. This clearance is in violation of the Forest Rights Act and is a threat to the livelihood of more than 14,000 people dependent on Mahan forests," she said in a release here.
"This is even more deplorable as India is playing host to the International Conference on Biodiversity where we will be grandstanding on our steps to protect forests and communities dependent on them, when in fact we are doing just the opposite," Pillai said.
Earlier, a Group of Ministers had recommended to the Cabinet that Mahan block for captive use by Hindalco and Essar should be given forest clearance, subject to some conditions.
