Recently the MoEF has been news for stalling several economic development projects. Instead of finding a sustainable approach for co-existence of industry and environment, the ministry has started a kind of activism since the beginning of UPA-II regime. One of the major victims of the so-called environmental activism has been the State of Orissa, which is one of the poorest states in India, in spite of having rich mineral resources.
However, the double standard of MoEF’s activism has recently evident from its decision regarding the environmental clearance for Jindal Power Limited Chhattisgarh. Though the MoEF has stopped two mega industrial projects in Orissa – Niyamgiri Bauxite Mining Project by OMC & Sterlite Industries and POSCO Steel Project – on the basis of reports submitted by committees, composed of well known environmental activists; the MoEF approved Environmental clearance for Jindal Power Limited for putting up 4x600 MW Power Plant at Tamnar in Gharghoda Tahsil, in Raigarh District of Chhattisgarh. But the TOR for the same project was withdrawn u/s 5 of Environmental Protection Act for violation of ‘EIA Notification-2006’ on June 18 2010
This project came in news when MoEF realized that 2400 MW project cannot be installed just in 62 Ha of land based on which TOR was cleared in March 2009 against normal requirement for such a mega project to the tune around 1000Ha. The project authority has gone beyond this and started construction on a site for which no land acquisition was taken place and site was totally different than shown in the TOR. On receipt of a complaint from a NGO that project construction has started without EC on a different site for which no Public Hearing has been conducted, MoEF was forced to withdraw the TOR on 18.06.2010 for violation of EIA Notification 2006 and starting construction without obtaining Prior Environmental Clearance. , JPL had not informed MoEF about the relocation of the project also to another site.
In a dramatic turn, JPL case was again put up in EAC meeting at MoEF within one month of withdrawal of TOR for grant of EC on 9th August, 2010 where JPL had accepted their mistakes and revised land use pattern besides giving justification for various issues raised by NGO as well as environmental experts. MoEF has ignored the observation of Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation (CMDC) that the proposed site is a coal bearing area and again accepted the justification of JPL that approval for locating plant in Coal bearing area shall be taken from Ministry of Coal in due course of time. Since no land was available, it was made to understand that the coal storage area requiring around 250 Acre of land will be located at a distance of 30KM from the plant land requirement for ash pond was limited to just 4 years requirement by stating that all ash will be 100% utilized after 4 years. It is further reported that Coal trandfer shall be through a Pipe Conveyor for which permission of right of way shall be obtained in due course of time as no land has been acquired or available. Since, Pipe conveyor also have physical structure, it can be installed only by acquiring land and not by obtaining right of way. Since, MoEF was to clear the project, all aspects have been overlooked and finally Environmental Clearance has been granted in the meeting of October, 2010 by restoring the original TOR.
The clearance of such a mega project clearly shows the type of transparency being maintained by MoEF and strengthen the concern of Mr Naveen Pattnaik, Chief Minister, of step motherly and vindictive attitude of Central Government towards Orissa State It is to be noted that Vedanta Alumina Refinery Expansion from 1-6 MTPA was also issued direction u/s 5 for violation of EIA Notification 2006 in August 2010 and since then project has been stopped by affecting livelihood of more that 10,000 people. MoEF is reluctant to consider grant of EC for this project even though a circular has been issued by MoEF on 16th November, 2010 that as instances have come to their notice where substantial progress has been made with substantial investment inviolation of EIA Notification 2006, all such projects can be considered for EC provided their board submit an undertaking that such mistakes shall not be repeated. It has been come to the notice that no such undertaking was sought from JPL which was cleared much before 16th November 2010 .
Before it is too late , time has come for people of Orissa to introspect and take a line so that development of Orissa is not stopped and much awaited clearances for various projects in Orissa is granted by MoEF without futher delay. This may require a better understanding between state and centre for the benefit of people of Orissa. The leaders of state politics also has to understand that such blatant favor and vindictive attitude of Central Government towards Orissa State can not go unnoticed by the people of Orissa . To stop the repeat of Bihar in Orissa, it is necessary that projects of Orissa should be cleared on priority to realize the dream of our late leaders like Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Biju Pattnaik of bringing tribal community into main stream.
The clearance of JPL project even before issuance of circular has raised many question the answers of which may be available in time to come. Why there was an hurry in issuing EC to JPL only ever before issue of such circular? It is clear that Mr, Jairam Ramesh was under tremendous pressure form his party for showing favor to his party’s colleagues and stopping development at Orissa State. Can MoEF justify that no favor has been shown ? Orissa is a poor state but rich in mineral and let Orissa also to develop. This is possible only if people can think above party line.
