Odisha government plan for the protection of wildlife in newly awarded coal mining areas
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha state government is preparing an integrated wildlife management plan for the protection of wildlife including elephants in newly awarded coal mining areas.
The decision was taken in a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra at Lok Seva Bhavan on Saturday. The plan will be prepared by the Wildlife Institute of India or the Indian Institute of Science in due course as per national guidelines. Chief Secretary has been directed to prepare a wildlife management plan immediately. Additional Principal Secretary of Forest and Environment Department Satyabrat Sahu informed in the meeting that Uttarakhand East Coal, Radhikapur East Coal, Radhikapur West Coal and Nainikol block have been newly allotted. All these coal blocks are coming from Chendipada, Kaniha, Jharpada under Riyamalkhand Forest of Angul and Deogarh District. There is a risk of impact on wildlife in all these areas. The Chief Secretary has directed the forest department to prepare an immediate wildlife management plan to avoid any adverse impact on the wildlife.
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