Jindal steel’s reply to environment notice by Dec 22

NEW DELHI - The environment ministry Wednesday granted an extension of two weeks to Jindal Steel and Power Limited for replying to its show cause notice for revoking environment clearance to the company’s steel and power plant in Orissa’s Angul district for violating green laws.

“The company had sought more time for replying to the show cause notice. The ministry has decided to grant an extension of two weeks and the company is required to file their reply by Dec 22. The personal hearing is scheduled for Dec 29,” the ministry said in its letter to the company.

The ministry last month had issued the notice under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, for revocation of environmental clearance in view of Jindal not obeying its conditions.

The ministry, while giving environmental clearance to the 6 million tonnes per annum (MMTA) integrated steel plant and 1,000 MW captive power plant at Kerjag in Angul, had said that no construction work should begin till the land is officially acquired.

However, the company flouted the norms, the ministry said.

“The clearance to the plant was granted in February 2007 under specific conditions that no construction activity at the project site shall be initiated till the 168.232 hectares of forest land is obtained,” it said.

According to the ministry, the divisional forest officer at Angul issued a show cause notice last year as construction work like storage godown, roads, foundation for industrial activities like power plant, stockyard and plant mill have been undertaken on the non-forest government land.

The ministry has directed the company to stop all activities within the project area till forest clearance is obtained.