Posco welcomes SC order on Khandadhar mines

Posco India has welcomed the Supreme Court judgement on granting it prospecting licence (PL) for Khandadhar iron ore mines in Sudergarh district of Odisha.

“We welcome the judgement of the Supreme Court on the Khandadhar mining case. We believe that this will significantly help to expedite the project. We are happy that it has come at a time when there has been significant progress on the land clearance work for the project”, said Y W Yoon, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Posco India.

It may be noted that the Odisha government had first recommended granting of PL to Posco India in 2006 to the government of India. The Union government had returned the recommendation back to the state government in the same year and directed it to conduct hearing of all the applicants and submit the recommendation again.

Based on this, the state government concluded hearing of all the applicants over a time spanning around two and half years and after conclusion re-recommended the same in favour of Posco to the Centre in 2009. Thus, as per the procedures under MMDR
Act, it was to be reviewed and approved by the Central government.  

“Now that, the Supreme Court has set aside the judgement of the Odisha High Court, it is hoped that the Central government will expeditiously look into the state’s recommendation leading to a final decision soon”, Yoon said.

Posco Timeline

^{June 22, 2005: Posco signs MoU with Odisha government to set up a 12 million tonne greenfield steel plant near Paradip at a cost of $12 billion.}

August 2005: Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) formed to oppose the project.

August 8, 2008: Supreme Court upholds “in principle” clearance for use of forest land for the project

December 29, 2009: MoEF grants final clearance for diversion of forest land.

July 14, 2010: Odisha High Court cancels grant of prospecting license (PL) to Posco for Khadadhar iron ore mines

Oct 29, 2010 : Odisha govt moved the Supreme Court against the High Court order.

August 6, 2010: MoEF issues "stop work" order to Odisha government based on the report of a panel to study implementation of Forest Right Act at Posco site.

January 31, 2011: MoEF gives conditional environment clearance to the Posco project.

May 2, 2011: MoEF lifts the stop work order on Posco.

March 30, 2012 : National Green Tribunal suspends the environment clearance granted to Posco.

May 9, 2013: Odisha govt says the milestone of acquiring 2700 acres land to enable the company start first phase work will be achieved within a week

May 10, 2013: Supreme Court strikes down the Odisha High Court order and asks the Centre to take a decision on grant of PL for Khadadhar mines to Posco.