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GREEN CARD
Cancel Posco approval: Panel New Delhi: Three of the four members of a government-appointed panel on Monday recommended the withdrawal of approval for Poscos Rs 54,000 crore integrated steel project in Orissa on grounds of grave violations of green laws,fabrication of evidence,suppression of information and interference by the finance ministry.The three members have recommended prosecution of officials for colluding in the violations or for being negligent in scrutinising the project.
This marks a setback to the countrys biggest FDI project,but not necessarily a lethal blow.There are strong indications that the UPA government,wary of a backlash from the locals,could be inclined to clear the project,relying on the dissent note of the head of the panel former environment secretary Meena Gupta.Gupta also acknowledged some of the violations,but held that the project should be allowed to continue after imposing additional conditions on the project being implemented by the South Korean steel giant.
With the ruling party in Orissa,Biju Janata Dal,already accusing the Centre of choking development of the poor state,chances are that the UPA leadership may tread cautiously this time.
In the majority report,the three members said Posco and the state government had seriously violated the Environment Protection Act,the Forest Conservation Act,Coastal Regulatory Zone rules and the Forest Rights Act and the clearances granted were a mockery of law.They also noted that while the South Korean steel giant had suppressed data,the Orissa government fabricated evidence,the Union environment and forests ministry altered records and subverted processes to ensure Posco got clearances.
The three members also recorded that the finance ministry interfered before crucial meetings of the independent Expert Appraisal Committee,which was assessing the project’s viability.The three members retired forest officer Devendra Pandey,researcher Urmila Pandey and Madras HC lawyer V Suresh also pointed out the farcical nature of the environment clearance with the Comprehensive Environment Impact Assessment,which too was incomplete,being submitted by Posco to the officials three years after the actual clearance : in October 2010.
The three members noted,There is flagrant violation of all substantial and procedural rules and regulations in granting the EIA and CRZ clearances to Posco.The entire clearance process has been reduced to a farcical and empty formality by all concerned.The environmental clearance process has been severely compromised by a complete lack of application of mind.
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