C'garh govt to cancel NoC given to UltraTech Cement for mining

Chhattisgarh Government today announced in the state assembly cancellation of the No-Objection-Certificate (NoC) granted to UltraTech Cement for a limestone mine here.
BJP MLA Devji Bhai Patel raised the matter of issuance of NoC to the cement company during the Question Hour, seeking to know whether the Water Resources department is aware of the process of allocation of land in Murra, Mohrenga and Math villages of the district, located in the catchment area of Pindraon reservoir for limestone mining.
He also sought to know whether the NoC has been issued to UltraTech, and if yes, when was it done.
Patel further questioned about any possible adverse effects on water filling in the reservoir and supply of water for irrigation in the region owing to mining in the catchment area.

In his reply, Agriculture and Water Resources Minister Brijmohan Agrawal said his department had granted conditional NoC to UltraTech on January 5, 2009.
"Yes, it is possible that the impact on catchment area (due to mining) may affect water filling in the reservoir and supply of water to the land under irrigation," he said.

He, however, added that supply of water for irrigation can be managed through alternative sources like Bhatapara branch canal in the region.
Dissatisfied with the reply, Patel said Pindraon reservoir was built way back in 1904 and over 6500 acres of land was irrigated from the reservoir.

The reservoir as well as its catchment area will be severely hampered once mining activities start, thereby affecting livelihood of farmers of the region.
He further sought to cancel the NoC granted to the company, saying if the department is well aware of the fact that it will adversely effect the interest of farmers, then why not terminate it.
Patel was supported by another BJP member Shivratan Sharma and senior Congress legislator Satyanarayan Sharma on the issue.
Thereafter, Agrawal took the decision to cancel the NoC granted to UltraTech, and said keeping in view the interest of farmers, the department will cancel the NoC.

A fresh survey will be conducted to examine the issues raised by the members, he said.
The 1,700-acre mine with production capacity of four million tonne per annum in Murra, Mohrenga and Math villages in Raipur were allotted to UtraTech cement. The company is in process of acquiring the land for the purpose.