Clearance to Iron Ore Mines
The Minister of Steel, Shri Beni Prasad Verma has said that the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Ministry of Environment and Forests examined the proposals of Jhillingburu-I, Jhillingburu-II and Topailore leases of Gua iron ore mines of SAIL in West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand on 24.01.2012 for issuance of Term of Reference (ToR) for preparation of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA)/Environment Management Plan (EMP) reports. The EAC has observed that these leases are located in the West Singhbhum District, an area identified as severely polluted in terms of the respirable suspended particulate matter exceeding the prescribed levels. The EAC has therefore, deferred and kept the proposals in abeyance till appropriate control measures are implemented in the said area. The proposal is still pending with MoEF for approval. The shortfall in the supplies of iron ore as a result of the closure of mines is being met from other operating mines as a short term measure.
In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today Shri Verma said, Ministry of Steel has taken up the matter on several occasions with MoEF to expedite the grant of forest and environment clearances in respect of pending leases of iron ore mines including Gua.
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