Ama Odisha News

Bhubaneswar, July 25: Central Navratna public sector unit National
Aluminium Company Limited (Nalco) has received the Stage-II (final)
forest clearance for diversion of 110.3 hectares of forest land in the
first renewal of mining lease for another 20 years in Panchpatmali
South Block in Orissa’s Koraput district, for bauxite mining
operations, a Nalco official said here on Monday.

The original lease period had expired after 30 years of mining.

Keeping in view the current expansion projects being implemented by
the company at its different units, this approval – which was obtained
on July 20, 2011, – will help the company enhance its production
capacity at the desired pace, the official added.

The Orissa government had earlier sought approval of the Union
government for the diversion of 110.3 hectares of forest land in the
first renewal of mining lease in Panchpatmali South Block for bauxite
mining, in accordance with the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
“On the basis of the state government’s compliance report, the Centre
has granted approval for diversion of 110.3 hectares of forest land in
Panchpatmali. As per the approval, the period of diversion of the said
forest land shall be for a duration co-terminus with the period of
mining lease proposed to be granted under the Mines and Minerals
(Development & Regulating) Act, 1957, or Rules framed there under,
subject to a maximum period of 20 years,” the official informed.
After consideration of the proposal by the Forest Advisory Committee
(FAC) constituted by the Central government, Stage-I (in-principle)
approval for the diversion was granted by the Union ministry of
environment and forests (MoEF). The Government of Orissa furnished
compliance report in respect of the conditions stipulated in the
in-principle approval and requested the Central Government to grant
final approval.

The company has to fulfill certain conditions laid down by the
Ministry. The company has also to take up certain measures along with
the State Government for afforestation on degraded forest land and
preparing plan to wean away the practitioners of the ecologically
destructive jhum cultivation in vicinity of the forest land being
diverted and providing funds for its implementation.

The Centre, while granting the approval, has also directed the State
Government to ensure the proper utilization of the company’s CSR fund
for peripheral development activities.