The Consent Committee (CC) of Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) gave its nod to 15 major projects while rejecting the proposals of Bhusan Steel and National Enterprises.
The panel has recommended to grant consent to 15 project proposals. It, however, rejected proposals of Cold Rolling Mill of 3.5 lakh tonne per annum capacity and galvanised steel of 2.25 lakh tonne per annum and colour coated steel of Bhusan Steel limited, an integrated steel plant located at Meramundali in Dhenkanal district.
Meanwhile, due to non-compliance of orders of the OSPCB, the Bhusan plant has closed down. Hence, the panel recommended deferring the case till the existing unit complies with the conditions of the OSPCB. Similarly, the proposal of the National Enterprise to enhance production of iron ore from 410,000 tonne per annum to 448,728 per annum from its mine was rejected by the committee. However, it asked the company authority to submit the mining plan for the enhanced capacity.
On the other hand, Odisha Power Generation Corporation (OPGC) and 14 others were granted consent order. The OPGC proposed to develop coal mines of 8 MTPA along with coal washery of same capacity at Manoharpur in Sundargarh district. The committee allowed consent subject to conditions of obtaining environmental clearance (EC) as per Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006.
Another major proposal of Nalco for bauxite ore production of 6.825 MTPA over a mining lease area of 1315.362 hectares, including forest land of 1294.282 hectares at Panchapatmali, Bhejpur in Koraput district was granted. The committee asked for supportive documents for drawing water.
The proposal of Joda East Iron Ore Mines of TISCO for expansion of railway siding to handle capacity from 6 MTPA to 11 MTPA at Joda in Keonjhar district was also given nod. The railway siding is connected with the main line of Murgamahadev -Bansapani line.
Adhunik Metaliks ltd (Kulum Iron Ore Mines) proposal to enhance production of iron ore from 1,20,000 MTPA to 4,14,000 MTPA with 2x150 TPH Crusher and Screening Plant was passed subject to conditions of obtaining of EC and forest clearance.
Similarly, proposal of Fly Ash light Weight Aggregate with capacity of 0.5 MTPA and Producer Gas Plant of Jindal Steel and Power ltd, located in Nisha in Angul district and proposal of Shiva Cement ltd to enhance cement capacity from 0.115 MTPA to 0.825 MTPA and Clinker capacity from 0.132 MTPA to 1.05 MTPA were also cleared.
The panel approved proposals of Mahagiri Chromite mines of IMFA ltd at Kaliapani in Jajpur district, Pro-Minerals Pvt ltd at Basantpur in Keonjhar, Emami Paper ltd in Balgopalpur in Baleswar, POl terminal for storage of petroleum products of Indian Oil Corporation ltd at Malimunda in Jharsuguda, for enhancing production of iron ore of Rungta Sons Pvt ltd at Orahgat in Sundargarh. Similar proposal of KC Pradhan, Paredipada Iron and Manganese mines in Keonjhar, Sukinda chromite mines of TISCO too got the committee’s nod.