MUMBAI, Feb. 27 -- Even as environmentalists are opposing a proposed iron ore mining project in the tiger corridor at Lohardongri in Chandrapur district, the state forest department has diverted a 12-hectare plot of forest land in Sakhari-Irawati village, Chandrapur, for an open cast mine project. Maharashtra forest department issued the order on Thursday for the Western Coalfields Limited (WCL), a leading mining company under Coal India Limited, that is carrying out the project in the district. WCL is looking to expand the span of its mining activity and production from 0.60 metric tonnes per annum to 3.25 metric tonnes per annum. It is seeking a total area of 1152.66 hectares for the project, people aware of the matter told HT. The environment impact assessment report, a copy of which is with HT, states that the total agricultural land required for the project is 1050.99 hectares, 89.6 hectares of government land and 12.7 hectares of forest land. The plot which will be brought into use is mainly agricultural land. The report also mentions that WCL would carry out backfilling of the excavated area at the time of the mine's closure. The ground will be levelled and carpeted with topsoil, while drains will be created to arrest the silt load. Grass and other vegetation will be planted in the reclaimed land to make it conducive for agricultural growth, it said....