Overturning the recommendations of the statutory Forest Advisory Committee (FAC), Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday gave a go-ahead to Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) for diversion of 595 hectares of forestland for mining in Chiria, Jharkhand.
This is the third instance where the environment minister has overturned the recommendations of FAC, the first in case of a steel project by South Korean firm Posco in Orissa, followed by the Renuka Dam in Himachal Pradesh.
“Most of the time I have accepted the recommendations of FAC… there have been two occasions when FAC has recommended rejection and I have exercised my own judgement and overturned those recommendations,” Ramesh said.
However, he made it clear that the difference in opinion would not affect the functioning of FAC. “The FAC will continue to focus single-mindedly on forest-related, biodiversity-related issues and concerns, while as minister I will have to necessarily to take a broader view but placing on public record in a complete manner the reasons for taking the view,” he added.
He further added that he had made no effort whatsoever to interfere in its functioning. “I have gone out of my way to ensure that it functions professionally and in an independent manner,” Ramesh said. Ramesh favoured SAIL on various grounds which includes its proposed Rs 18,000-crore initial public offer, of which 50 per cent will accrue to the central government. SAIL had already got forest clearances for two mines in the area in 1998.
The minister said Chiria mines were important for SAIL as in the next 50 years around 40 per cent of the iron ore requirement of the company would come from Chiria. This is the only compact deposit available to SAIL, Maharatna company. SAIL has sought permission for diversion of 595 hectrares, which is 25 per cent of the total area of Chiria mine. The permission is being sought for 20 years.
The Chiria mine complex covers about 2,376 hectares, which is about three per cent of the entire Saranda Forest area. Ramesh has cleared the proposal by adding 13 specific environment and forest-related conditions along with the usual rider of compensatory afforestation.
The conditions includes non-mining areas to be shifted to non-forest areas and non-forest roads will be used during night hours. Only conveyor systems to be used for transportation of ore and no discharge will be allowed into the Koena river. SAIL will also have to make a contribution of Rs 20 crore over the next five years for programmes related to wildlife and biodiversity in the Saranda Forest division.
Given the ecological sensitivity of the Saranda Forest, the environment ministry will assume direct responsibility and set up multi disciplinary expert group for monitoring and evaluation. “This committee will pay special attention to the concerns relating to the impact of mining on elephant habitats and migratory routes,” he added.
