(a) whether the Government has given green signal to POSCO project in Orissa even though
it has violated environmental norms;
(b) if so, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government had set up a Committee to examine the alleged violations by
POSCO;
(d) if so, whether the said Committee has submitted the report; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government thereon?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) ENVIRONMENT & FORESTS (SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)
(a) & (b) The Central Government after following due procedure accorded following
approvals/clearances for establishment of an Integrated Steel Plant and Captive Port by
POSCO-India Pvt. Ltd. in Jagatsinghpur district of Orissa:
(i) The environmental clearance on 19.07.2007 to 4.0 MTPA Integrated Steel Plant with
Captive Power Project of 400 MW subject to stipulation of environmental safeguards;
(ii) The CRZ clearance on 15.05.2007 for a minor captive port;
(iii) Stage-I forest clearance on 19.09.2008 for diversion of 1253.225 ha. forest land,
subject to stipulated conditions;
(iv) Stage-II forest clearance on 29.12.2009 for diversion of 1253.225 ha. forest
land, , subject to certain conditions which inter-alia includes that the rights of the
tribal people will be settled as per the provisions of the Scheduled Tribes and Other
Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 before implementation
of the project. On 08.01.2010 State Government of Orissa was further informed that the
Stage-II forest clearance issued was conditional subject to settlement of rights under
the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights)
Act, 2006. The State Government was categorically directed that no forest land should be
handed over to the User Agency before settlement of rights under the above mentioned Act.
(c) to (e) On receipt of complaints on violations of the Scheduled Tribes and Other
Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 and Resettlement &
Rehabilitations (R&R) provisions, the Central Government on 28.07.2010 constituted a four
member Committee consisting of Ms. Meena Gupta, Dr. Devendra Pandey, Dr. Urmila Pingley and
Dr. V. Suresh. Terms of Reference of the said Committee as amended on 27.08.2010, are as
below:
(i) Investigation and ascertainment of the Implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and
other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 in and around the
said forest land;
(ii) Investigation and ascertainment of the status of the implementation of the
Rehabilitations and Resettlement provisions in respect of the said project;
(iii) Review compliance with Environmental (EIA), Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) & other
clearances/approvals granted by the Ministry of Environment & Forests and other Central,
State and local authorities;
(iv) Review compliance with statutory provisions, approvals, clearances and
permissions under various statutes, rules, notifications, etc.
(v) Review compliance with pari passu conditionalities imposed in item (iii) and (iv) above;
(vi) Any other matter which is in furtherance of the above objectives. The committee
has submitted its report on 18.10.2010. The report has been referred to the Forest
Advisory Committee, the Expert Appraisal Committee (Industry) and the Expert Appraisal
Committee (CRZ and Infrastructure).