NAGPUR: A week after the state government allowed forest land diversion of 148 hectares for Adani Power's thermal power plant expansion plans in Tiroda (Gondia district), the office of the principal chief conservator of forest (PCCF) in Nagpur has raised doubts over it and put it on hold. On Wednesday, the state government has sought a clarification from the ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) which had given the first go-ahead. The PCCF's objection is based on apprehensions that the diverted land falls within the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of the Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve. As such, permission of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) is required, which has not been taken so far. The environment ministry itself moved with alacrity to give clearance for the diversion. On August 20 this year, it relaxed certain ESZ norms regarding environment clearance. Nine days later, it cleared diversion of the 148 hectares of forest land for Adani plant's expansion. With the ministry already having cut the powers of state wildlife boards, it is now expected that the reverted query will sail through the NBWL. As reported by TOI (September 15 and October 27), the NBWL now comprises only retired officials and not many wildlife experts. According to the ministry's papers, the diverted land is needed for expansion of Adani's power plant. The company plans to add 1,980MW to the existing 3,300MW set-up making it the largest producing power plant in the country. Significantly, in August and September the generation had plummeted below 1,000MW due to coal shortage. The plant had closed down completely for two days. The company got its power tariff hiked on the grounds that it did not have firm coal linkage and had to buy costlier imported coal as well as from the open market. The eco sensitive zone of Nagzira has not yet been notified. A proposal sent by the state is pending with the MoEF. As per Supreme Court ruling, in the event of no notification, the ESZ is presumed to be 10 kms. The 148 hectares needed to be diverted falls within 7.5 kms of Nagzira's boundary. However, Adani is relying on a ruling it expects to be given by the MoEF that the state's proposal of having only a 2 kms ESZ will be notified. This proposal was mooted for the second time by the state in June this year. The land is 5 kms beyond the proposed ESZ. Also, from some parts of Nagzira, the proposed ESZ is 8-10kms away. The PCCF's office wants clarity from the state and MoEF on what should be considered as the ESZ. The land proposed to be diverted includes protected forest and zudpi (low grade) jungle and is contiguous forest extending from the Nagzira boundary. According to an official in the PCCF's office the need for resending the proposal arose after "Nagzira was notified as a tiger reserve". "As such a fresh proposal had to be submitted," he claimed. Wildlife experts rubbished this notion. They contend that ESZs remain the same, be it for a sanctuary, national park or tiger reserve. It is feared that the rules are being twisted to help Adani, they alleged. PCCF (wildlife) Sarjan Bhagat confirmed that a ESZ boundary of 2 kms has been proposed in the direction in which Adani's proposed land is situated. "However, since the final approval has not come, a clarification has been sought," he said. According to Roy Paul, general manager (corporate affairs) of Adani Power Maharashtra Limited (APML), the MoEF has delinked environment clearances "for projects which are outside ESZ". "The proposed land is an extended patch for wildlife movement," said wildlife conservationist Prafulla Bhamburkar. "It is sad to see that the forest land has been diverted to thermal power project which is situated so close to an important tiger reserve," remarked Kishor Rithe, a former NBWL member.