India, July 22 -- The Maharashtra forest department diverted 87.35 hectares of shrub forest (Zudpi jungle) for Gondkhairi Underground Coal Mine project on Monday. The land allotted for the project is located in Gondkhairi village in Kalmeshwar taluka, 20 kilometres from Nagpur city.

The Gondkhairi Underground Coal Mine project, being carried out by the Adani Power Maharashtra Limited (APML) and involves an investment of over Rs.1,300 crore with an operational lifespan of 30 years.

In March this, the Supreme Court ruled that the Zudpi jungle in Nagpur shall be considered as "forest lands" and noted that the diversion of land in the forest's limits for non-forest purposes, shall not be done without prior approval from the central governme...