The Union ministry of environment & forests (MoEF) has approved the diversion of 3986.58 hectares (9850.70 acres) of forest land for ten major industrial projects in the state.
Out of these 10 industrial projects, forest land has been acquired and handed over to all industries except Posco India where the diverted forest land of 1253.22 hectares (3096.66 acres) has not been handed over to the steel maker due to the stop work order of the MoEF.
This was stated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in a written reply to a query in the state assembly.
In lieu of the diversion of the forest land, the MoEF has stipulated that compensatory afforestation must be taken up on 4201.73 hectares (10382.33 hectares) of land.For development of iron ore based industries at Jakhapura in Jajpur district, 1419.95 hectares (3508.64 acres) have been diverted in Cuttack and Jajpur districts and in lieu of this forest land diversion, compensatory afforestation has been taken up on 1395.12 hectares.
Similarly, 844.63 hectares of forest land have been diverted for construction of a steel plant of Neelachal Ispat Nigam Ltd at Duburi in Jajpur district, 102 hectares at Rayagada for alumina refinery plant of Utkal Alumina International Ltd, 168.23 hectares in Angul district for the establishment of a captive power plant by Jindal Steel & Power Ltd, 59.16 hectares at Lapanga for an integrated steel plant by Bhushan Steel & power Ltd, 38.39 hectares at Pandoli and Nishabhnaga in Sambalpur district for an integrated steel complex by Shyam DRI Power Ltd.
In all, compensatory afforestation work has been taken up on 2591.89 hectares of land so far out of the stipulated 4201.73 hectares.
