Putting to rest all apprehensions of the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF), the forest and environment department of the Orissa government has clarified that the site of the proposed Vedanta University Project (VUP) does not fall under the CRZ area and hence there is no possibility of violation of CRZ norms.
"The state government has sent a written communication to the MoEF that the proposed VUP does not fall under CRZ area and so there is no question of violation of CRZ norms. We have submitted the additional information sought by the ministry in this connection and also the map of the project site”, an official source told Business Standard.
It may be noted that the MoEF which had suspended the environmental clearance for the university project in May this year over the issues pertaining to the alleged violations of Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) norms, has sought additional information and clarification from the state government.
In a letter to the state Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik dated August 26, the Union minister for environment and forest Jairam Ramesh had stated that the information furnished by the Orissa Coastal Zone Management Authority (OCZMA) was not adequate and more information needed to be submitted.
Ramesh had stated in the letter that OCZMA has not furnished the requisite information despite the reminder of the ministry last month. The MoEF can place the VUP project before the Expert Appraisal Committee only after the receipt of the said information.
Ramesh also stated that he had received allegations of violations of CRZ norms at the VUP site from MPs, MLAs and even a member of the technical committee of the OCZMA.
It may be noted that the MoEF had granted the environmental nod as well as CRZ clearance for the VUP in April this year.
The VUP to be developed by the Anil Agarwal Foundation has been envisioned to be a multi-disciplinary university of international standards on the Puri-Konark marine drive at an investment of Rs 5000 crore.
The university which will have an intake of 100,000 students will be spread over 6892 acres with a total construction area of 273.68 lakh sq metres. The university will have provision for quality higher education and cutting-edge research facility in 95 academic disciplines.
Within the planned construction area of the university project, 1500 acres will be devoted to academic block, 1200 acres will be set aside for R&D centre and research work while 1092 acres will be earmarked for green belt and open spaces.
Besides, a township will be built over 2100 acres for the faculty and other staff of the university. A sports complex spread over 100 acres and an exhibition centre on 100 acres of land are also set to come up as a part of the project.
