Environment ministry firm on green criteria for Posco project

The Union environment ministry is firm on its stand that South Korean steel giant Posco would not be given environmental clearances till the time it ensured that rights of tribal people living in the area had been settled.

In a recent reply to the ministry, the Orissa government has claimed that no tribals were residing or cultivating land in the forest area for the proposed steel plant of Posco-India, a subsidiary of the South Korean major, in Jagatsinghpur district.

Notwithstanding the state government’s response, the environment ministry has asked the Orissa government to provide the English translation of the proceedings under the settlement of the Rights under Forest Rights Act, conducted in Oriya language for “better understanding and appraisal”.

Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh said the project was still under an “in-principle” approval. The project received a conditional clearance under the Forest Conservation Act last December but environmental clearances under the Environment Protection Act are pending. Ramesh has now stopped all future “in-principle” environment clearances for projects.

In December last year, the environment ministry had given its approval for diversion of about 1,254 hectares of forest land in Orissa for the Posco project, provided it met certain conditions. This clearance, given under the Forest Conservation Act, was subject to the project getting environmental nod.

Amongst the conditions listed by the environment ministry, the legal status of the land was not to be changed. Affected families will be suitably compensated and rights of tribal people will be settled under the Recognition of Forest Rights Act before the project is implemented.

Wherever possible, Posco-India was to undertake afforestation measures, in consultation with the state forest department. In addition, the environment ministry said Posco would need to make arrangements for free supply of coal or alternative fuel to labourers working on the project so there was no pressure on the forest areas.