(a) whether more than 100 steel projects are being affected for want of environmental clearance and land acquisition problem;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise including Andhra Pradesh; and
(c) the steps being taken by the Government to complete such projects in time?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF STEEL (SHRI A. SAI PRATHAP)
(a)&(b): Steel sector in the country is deregulated and Government does not exercise any
control over production, sale and price of steel products. The role of Government is that of a
facilitator for an overall and healthy growth of steel sector in the country.
Large integrated steel projects are resource intensive involving land acquisition, forest
clearance, allocation of raw material resources, power and water supply. These issues are
dealt by the concerned Ministries and State Governments, in accordance with the relevant Acts,
Rules and Policies. Ministry of Steel is, however, closely monitoring the issues in respect
of the Public Sector Units under its administrative control. According to the information
available, the details of pending proposals relating to land acquisition and environment
clearances in respect of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) is enclosed at annexure.
Rashtirya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) and NMDC Limited have no pending proposal for
environmental clearance and land acquisition, pertaining to their steel projects.
(c) Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) is vested with the job of monitoring and coordinating
on the issues concerning major steel investments. Ministry of Steel reviews the major
integrated steel projects, on a regular basis in order to note the problems relating to
environmental clearance and land acquisition issues and concerns of the investors. These
are discussed, in the IMG meeting, for further action by the concerned Ministries/Departments
and State Governments.
Annexure
Steel Authority of India Limited(SAIL)
(A) Cases of environment clearance with Ministry of Environment & Forest (MoEF)
(a) Sitanala Coking Coal Block, Jharkhand: - Approval for grant of environmental clearance
is pending with MoEF since 2nd June 2010.
(b) Setting up of washery at Tasra, Jharkhand: - For setting up a coal washery of 3.5 MTPA
capacity, application for Terms of Reference for preparation of EIA-EMP was submitted on 18th
Jan, 2010 and it is pending with MoEF.
(c) Budhaburu lease, Chiria Iron Ore Mines, Jharkhand: - Proposal was submitted on
06.08.2009 and it is pending with MoEF approval is awaited.
(d) Sukri-Latur lease, Chiria Iron Ore Mines, Jharkhand: - Proposal was submitted on
06.08.2009 and it is pending with MoEF.
(e) Dhobil lease, Chiria Iron Ore Mines, Jharkhand: - Proposal was submitted on 06.
08.2009 and it is pending with MoEF.
(f) Ajitaburu lease, Chiria Iron Ore Mines, Jharkhand: - Proposal was submitted on
06.08.2009 and it is pending with MoEF.
(g) ML-130 & ML-162, Barsua-Kalta Iron Ore Mines, Orissa: - Proposal was submitted on
24.11.2009 and it is pending with MoEF.
(B) Delay in land acquisition / allotment
(a) Tasra Coking Coal Mines, Jharkhand: - Out of total 860 Ha, required for mining,
only 243 ha land has been acquired.
(b) Chiria Iron Ore Mine, Jharkhand: - For setting up a processing plant at Patherbasa,
Manoharpur, land has been identified and application for acquisition of 405 Ha has been
submitted to DC, Chaibasa on 24.9.2009.