The Union ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) on Tuesday submitted the detailed report to the National Green Tribunal on the environment clearance granted to the Posco’s mega steel project in Orissa.
MoEF, in its report, has stated that the environmental clearance to the proposed steel project has been accorded abiding by the laws.
The NGT, in August last year, had served notices to the MoEF, Orissa State Pollution Control Board and Posco India asking about the circumstances under which the which environmental clearance was given to the Posco’s 54,000 crore project in the state.
The Posco India, on the other hand, through an affidavit had told the tribunal that there has been no violation by the company and whatever work has been undertaken so far by the company was strictly under the conditions of the agreement and the guidelines provided by the ministry.
It may be noted that environmentalist Prafulla Samantray had filed a petition in the tribunal, challenging the MoEF decision to grant environmental clearances to the steel plant and port projects of Posco India.
The final forest clearance from the environment ministry came in January 31 this year with several riders, more than half a decade after Posco signed the MoU with the Orissa government for the project.
The NGT has scheduled February 2 as the next hearing on Posco environment clearance.