Jindal's Angul project runs into environment problems

Jindal Steel and Power Ltd's proposed integrated steel plant at Angul in Orissa has run into environmental problems with the environment ministry issuing a show-cause notice and threatening revocation of its clearance for flouting forest norms.

In a notice issued on 22 November, the ministry has given the company 15 days' time to explain as to why environmental clearance for the 6 MTPA integrated steel plant and 1000 MV captive power plant should not be revoked.

This is the third project of a high-profile industrial group in the state to be subjected to the scrutiny of the environment ministry for flouting green norms. The first two being projects from the stable of UK-based Vedanta Plc and South Korean steel giant Posco.

While it is the end of the road for Vedanta's bauxite mining plans in Niyamgiri with the Environment Ministry's denial of clearance, Posco's integrated steel plant at Jagatsinghpur in Orissa continues to be in limbo following forest panel recommendations for withdrawal of its forest clearance.

In the notice issued to JSPL, the ministry has pointed out that environmental clearance for the project was subject to the company abstaining from undertaking any construction activity at the project site till the 168.232 hectares of forest land was granted approval under Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.

The total land requirement of the project was 2,160.385 hectares, of which 168.232 hectares were forest land and the project received environment clearance in February 2007.