The forest clearance for major ongoing projects in the State was reviewed by Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi at a high level meeting here on Friday.
Considering the forest clearance status of each project, Chief Secretary Padhi directed the Forest department officials to expedite the process of forest clearance to avoid time and cost overrun of the projects.
The project proponents were advised to submit the compliances on the web portal in time. Time limit was fixed for completion of the proposals against each projects and their onward transmission to the Government of India.
Further, Chief Secretary Padhi directed to create a land bank for compensatory afforestation. The issues relating to use of revenue forest land and mine voids for compensatory afforestation were discussed and resolved in the meeting.
Available data shows, around 66 ongoing major projects have got forest clearances. Out of those 33 have got Stage-1 forest clearance and 33 have got State-II forest clearance. These projects are being implemented through the departments of Steel and Mining, Energy, NHAI,
Works, Industry, Irrigation, Railways and others.
Padhi directed to complete the ground level work for Stage-II clearance and transmit those to the Government of India within prescribed time limit.
The projects waiting Stage-I forest clearances figured in the meeting. The major projects included Chandikhol-Duburi Talcher section of NH, Baharagora-Singara section of NH-6, Binjhabahal-Tileibani section of NH-6, Singara-Binhjabahal section of NH-6, Biramitrapur-Barkote section of NH-23, Baleswar-Baripada-Jharpokharia NH-5, Pallahara bypass, Balangir-Sonepur section of NH-57, Talcher-Bimlagarh new railway line, widening and strengthening of Rairangpur-Jasipura section of NH-220, Khorda Rd – Balangir rail line, doubling of Sambalpur-Talcher rail line and doubling of Sambalpur-Titilagarh rail line. The forest clearance for OMC mines and irrigation projects were also reviewed and expedited.