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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}

'''Mahan Coal Limited''' is a disputed coal mine project in [[Singrauli district]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], India. The project has been opposed by environmentalists since it seeks to pull down 1200 acres of old sal forests<ref name=fp/> for a coal mine.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/mahan-at-all-costs-34230ref=true|title=Mahan at all costs|website=www.downtoearth.org.in|accessdate=20 December 2018}}</ref> At least 500,000 prime [[sal tree]]s would be chopped, and 54 villages<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/fAB8jZp3H6OUkFxdAUVbXK/A-war-to-save-our-forests.html|title=A war to save our forests|first=Kingshuk|last=Niyogy|date=6 November 2015|website=Livemint.com/|accessdate=20 December 2018}}</ref> with a considerable tribal population would be displaced.<ref name=bbc>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-32443739 | title=How tribal Indians beat big coal firms | date=11 May 2015 | publisher=BBC | accessdate=8 October 2018 }}</ref> However, a group of villagers have also been supporting the mine since it would boost the local economy.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/madhya-pradesh-battle-for-coal-divides-mahan-villages/story-yyKkfeKOULc869B9wUVe3I.html | title=Madhya Pradesh: Battle for coal divides Mahan villages | date=4 February 2015 | newspaper=Hindustan Times | first=Neeraj | last=Santoshi | accessdate=8 October 2018 }}</ref>

==Business==
Mahan Coal Ltd is a Rs 5,000-crore joint venture between [[Essar Energy]] and the [[Aditya Birla Group]] (Hindalco).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/|title=Business News, India Stock Market, Personal Finance, IPO, Financial News Headlines|website=The Financial Express|accessdate=20 December 2018}}</ref>

Part of the controversy is based on claims by [[Greenpeace India]] that the sanction for the coal mine was given based on a Gram Sabha (village board) resolution that had been forged.<ref>
{{cite news
| title = Essar, Hindalco's Mahan coal block: Lobbying for 3 yrs, Greenpeace claims clearance given under pressure
| author = Milind Ghatwai
| publisher = Financial Express
| url = http://www.financialexpress.com/article/industry/companies/essar-hindalcos-mahan-coal-block-lobbying-for-3-yrs-greenpeace-claims-clearance-given-under-pressure/29279/
| date = 13 January 2015
}}Quote: Greenpeace alleged
that signatures of most of the villagers had been forged and that the
resolution also included signatures of at least six villagers who were not
alive.
</ref> The land was allocated to the company based on this document. However, in 2014, the coal block land was deallocated by the [[Supreme court|Supreme Court]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/business/report-supreme-court-cancels-214-of-218-coal-block-allocations-gives-operational-mines-6-months-to-wrap-up-2021185|title=Supreme Court cancels 214 of 218 coal block allocations; gives operational mines 6 months to wrap up|date=24 September 2014|website=dna|accessdate=20 December 2018}}</ref> resulting in sharp drops in the company's stocks.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/jspl-hindalco-drop-on-concerns-over-de-allocation-of-coal-mines-114090400273_1.html|title=JSPL, Hindalco drop on concerns over de-allocation of coal mines|date=4 September 2014|accessdate=20 December 2018|newspaper=[[Business Standard]]}}</ref>

Its original allocation in 2006 is part of the [[Indian coal allocation scam]]. During investigations, the Ministry of Power stated that it had opposed a role for Hindalco in the mine,<ref name=fp>
{{cite news
| title = The curious case of Moily, Essar, Hindalco and Mahan coal block
| author = Jay Mazoomdaar
| publisher = Firstpost India
| url = http://www.firstpost.com/blogs/the-curious-case-of-moily-essar-hindalco-and-mahan-coal-block-1404631.html
| date = 23 Feb 2014
}}
quote: Ministry of Power [told the CBI] that it did not recommend the 2006
allocation of
Mahan coal block to Hindalco. Instead, it claimed to have asked the Ministry
of Coal to allocate Mahan to Essar Power.
</ref> but the coal ministry under [[Manmohan Singh]] allocated the mine to the joint company.

===Opposition by Greenpeace India===
Since the BJP government came to power, the project has seen considerable support, and has been linked in the media for the Government actions against Greenpeace India.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/nda-govt-s-grouse-with-greenpeace-mahan-coal-block-protests-115022000023_1.html|title=NDA govt's grouse with Greenpeace: Mahan coal block protests|first=Nitin|last=Sethi|date=20 February 2015|publisher=|accessdate=20 December 2018|via=Business Standard}}</ref>

In January 2015, Priya Pillai, a Greenpeace campaigner, who was very active in Mahan, was [[Priya Pillai Offloading|offloaded from a flight]] while she was to meet some British MPs inquiring into the matter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-greenpeace-campaigner-priya-pillai-speaks-to-british-mp-s-via-skype-2052620|title=Greenpeace campaigner Priya Pillai speaks to British MP's via Skype|date=15 January 2015|website=dna|accessdate=20 December 2018}}</ref> The issue is relevant to Britain, since Essar Power is listed in the London Stock Exchange.

In March 2015, the Ministry of Environment did not give a clearance for the project,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/mahan-coal-block-mp-greenpeace-union-government-248092-2015-04-11|title=Union government divided over Greenpeace campaign against Mahan coal block project in MP|author=Abhishek Bhalla|date=11 April 2015|website=India Today|accessdate=20 December 2018}}</ref> and subsequently Ministry of Coal announced that the Mahan coal block would not be auctioned for mining, which was viewed as a victory by the tribespeople living in the villages.<ref name=bbc/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{coord|24.062|82.624|display=title}}

[[Category:Coal mines in India]]
[[Category:Singrauli district]]
[[Category:Essar Group]]
[[Category:Joint ventures]]
[[Category:Aditya Birla Group]]
[[Category:Environmental controversies]]
[[Category:Mining in Madhya Pradesh]]

Mahan Coal Limited - Revision history

imported>MPGuy2824 at 04:39, 17 January 2021