The ministry of environment and forests (MoEF ) has issued a show-cause notice to Sesa Goa, in which the Vedanta group holds majority stakes, for revocation of environmental clearance given to their Pirna iron ore mine under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
The showcause notice, according to MoEF, has been issued because information and data contained in the environment impact assessment report submitted by Sesa Goa to MoEF for obtaining environmental clearance was found to be inadequate.
Sesa Goa had applied to MoEF for obtaining prior environmental clearance to Pirna iron ore mine TC number 23 /55 at villages Pirna and Nadora in Bardez taluka. MoEF had considered the proposal based on the documents and information submitted by Sesa Goa and also considered the recommendation of the same by the Expert Appraisal committee (EAC) constituted under the provisions of the EIA notification. Based on the above, MoEF had granted environmental clearances to the mining projectin June 2009.
Pirna Nadora Kruti Samiti and others, however, filed an appeal before the National Environment Appellate Authority (NEAA) challenging the environmental clearance given to the mining project.
MoEF was a respondent in the appeal.
While hearing the matter, NEAA directed MoEF to constitute a subcommittee of the EAC to visit the area and examine the reasons for wholesale public opposition to the mining and to re-examine its impact on agricultur, horticulture,school children, health, habitation, river and groundwater.
The sub-committee visited the mining site and submitted its report. Based on the report, MoEF submitted its reply to NEAA. On October 15,2010, while hearing the appealon merit, NEAA directed that the consideration of the EAC was found inadequate and it may be considered again.
EAC reconsidered the matter and after scrutinizing the site visit report of the subcommittee and other documents from the state government departments and the company’s response submitted to the NEAA, EAC was of the view that the environmental clearance for the mining project may be revoked /suspended till the requisite in formation and action plan to address the concerns raised were submitted by Sesa Goa and examined by EAC.
The showcause notice, according to MoEF, has been issued because information and data contained in the environment impact assessment report submitted by Sesa Goa to MoEF for obtaining environmental clearance was found to be inadequate.
Sesa Goa had applied to MoEF for obtaining prior environmental clearance to Pirna iron ore mine TC number 23 /55 at villages Pirna and Nadora in Bardez taluka. MoEF had considered the proposal based on the documents and information submitted by Sesa Goa and also considered the recommendation of the same by the Expert Appraisal committee (EAC) constituted under the provisions of the EIA notification. Based on the above, MoEF had granted environmental clearances to the mining projectin June 2009.
Pirna Nadora Kruti Samiti and others, however, filed an appeal before the National Environment Appellate Authority (NEAA) challenging the environmental clearance given to the mining project.
MoEF was a respondent in the appeal.
While hearing the matter, NEAA directed MoEF to constitute a subcommittee of the EAC to visit the area and examine the reasons for wholesale public opposition to the mining and to re-examine its impact on agricultur, horticulture,school children, health, habitation, river and groundwater.
The sub-committee visited the mining site and submitted its report. Based on the report, MoEF submitted its reply to NEAA. On October 15,2010, while hearing the appealon merit, NEAA directed that the consideration of the EAC was found inadequate and it may be considered again.
EAC reconsidered the matter and after scrutinizing the site visit report of the subcommittee and other documents from the state government departments and the company’s response submitted to the NEAA, EAC was of the view that the environmental clearance for the mining project may be revoked /suspended till the requisite in formation and action plan to address the concerns raised were submitted by Sesa Goa and examined by EAC.
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