The ministerial panel, headed by FM, recommends green clearance to be considered by the Cabinet

In a major relief to Anil Ambani-led Reliance Power, Aditya Birla Group and Essar Power, a 12-member ministerial panel on coal on Wednesday recommended environmental clearance for two coal blocks linked to critical infrastructure projects being developed by the three major corporate houses. Environmental clearance for the blocks had been hanging fire for two years, following the environment ministry’s controversial ‘no-go’ classification that had barred mining in heavily-forested areas.