Industry, mining cause diversion of 10,261 ha forest land

As many as 10261.48 hectares of forest land have been diverted for mining and industrial activities in the state between 2001-02 and 2010-11.

During the past ten years, the diversion of forest land for mining and industrial activities stood at 8,476.41 hectares and 1,785.07 hectares respectively. In lieu of that, 12,122.99 hectares land including 7,233.38 hectares of forest land and 4,889.60 hectares of non-forest land were earmarked for raising compensatory afforestation.

The percentage of survival in the compensatory afforestation activities taken up at different locations of the state varies from 30 per cent to 90 per cent, said state minister for forest and environment Debi Prasad Mishra.

Of the total area of 2,014.72 hectares stipulated for compensatory afforestation for the industrial activities, 339.04 hectares have been covered. On the other hand, 6,335.49 hectares have been covered out of the total area of 10,108.27 hectares stipulated for mining activities.

The state has diverted 119.84 hectares (296.13 acres) of forest land in Angul district for the establishment of Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (JSPL). Similarly, 1,253.22 hectares (3,096.77 acres) were diverted for Posco India's mega steel plant proposed in Jagatsinghpur district.

The other projects for which forest land has been diverted included Bhushan Steel Ltd at Lapanga (59.16 hectares), aluminium smelter and captive power plant of Aditya Aluminium Ltd-Sambalpur (119.84 hectares), Bhushan Steel & Strips Ltd in Angul and Dhenkanal districts (61.48 hectares), Shyam DRI Power Ltd at Pandoli in Sambalpur district (38.39 hectares) and Adhunik Metaliks-Rourkela (24.34 hectares).

This apart, the diversion of 1,159.4 hectares (2,864.93 acres) of forest land for 22 industries is on the pipeline.

The proposals include diversion of 519.19 hectares of forest land at Patana tehsil in Keonjhar district for the setting up of a 12 million tonne per annum greenfield steel plant by ArcelorMittal India Ltd and 74.52 hectares of forest land at Athagarh in Cuttack district for KVK Nilachal Power Ltd.