The Supreme Court today granted approval for Tata Steel's prospecting licence for mining in Bailadila block in Chhattisgarh for its steel plant at Naxal-infested Dantewada district in the state. A special forest Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishanan while granting approval for prospecting licence to Tata said the company should approach Director General, Forest for clearance. The Delhi High Court on February 18 had quashed the Centre's decision to grant a prospecting licence to Tata Steel for mining the ore over an area of 2,500 hectares in Deposit No 1 of Bailadila Reserve Forest for its steel plant. The high court had passed orders in response to a petition by the state-run mineral company NMDC Ltd, which sought cancellation of the Centre's approval granted to Tata Steel on February 14, 2007. NMDC had claimed that its preferential rights were overlooked by the authorities and all clearances were granted in violation of the Forest Conservation Act. Challenging the decision, Tata said there was no diversion of any forest land for any non-forest purpose. Tata counsel F.S. Nariman contended that not all activities under the Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, require use of forest land and forest clearance was not required for reconnaissance or even for prospecting if (i) the number of bore-holes do not exceed 10 per sq kms, (ii) the licensee does not collect samples of the ores and (iii) the bore-holes were up to 4 inches in diameter.