A committee set up by the environment ministry to look into forest and environment issues involving Korean steel giant Posco’s Rs 54,000-crore project in Orissa give its report on October 18.
“Earlier the panel was to submit the report on October 11, but now its members have informed us that they will do so on October 18. It will be then discussed by the Forest Appraisal Committee ,” environment minister Jairam Ramesh said.
The fate of Posco’s project in Jagatsinghpur district in the state is stated to be dependent on this report. The four-member panel led by former union environment secretary Meena Gupta was earlier tasked with assessing the rehabilitation and resettlement provisions, as well as the implementation of the Forest Rights Act.
However, its mandate was widened last month to investigate compliance with the environmental and coastal regulation zone clearances as well.
The panel has reviewed all approvals granted to the steel giant at various government levels over the last five years. It also visited Posco’s captive port site at the Jatadhari river mouth near Paradip port, besides meeting officials of Orissa State Pollution Control Board, Posco and Paradip Port Trust. It also enquired about the environment impact assessment study done for the project.