ABHIJIT ROY CHOWDHURY
TIA
NEW DELHI: Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) set up by MoEF has asked the government not to give green signal to the Posco project, until forest rights are settled. It has recommended for settlement of forest rights first.
Union Minister for Environment and Forest Independent charge Mr Jairam Ramesh said, the Forest Advisory Committee has submitted its report Tuesday and asked to put on hold the Posco project, until forest rights are settled.
FAC had met on October 25, but it failed to submit its report to the ministry due to difference among the members.
Meanwhile, the Environment Appraisal Committee (EAC) on Posco also met yesterday and discuss the environment impact of the project and is likely to finalise the recommendation.
The Meena Gupta committee which had submitted it report raised the issue of comprehensive Impact Assessment of the project.
Meanwhile, Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) on CRZ will again meet on Nov 30 to decide on the violation of costal regulation zone by the Posco India Ltd.
This will be the last meeting of the independent panel before the commiittee submit its report.
Before any final decision is taken on the project three independent reports one relating to forest by FAC and two report of EAC one on environment and other costal will be submitted to the ministry then final decision will be taken by MoEF.
Interestingly, the fate of the project is at risk, as the four-member central committee comprising Meena Gupta, Urmila Pingle, Devendra Pandey and V Suresh had submitted two different reports on Posco’’s proposal to set up an integrated steel plant and a captive port in Orissa on October 18.