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30 years on, Rs 60 cr incurred, Magnasite Unit project yet to take off


1/20/2017
Nitesh Sangral
Early Times Report 

Jammu, Jan 20: Faulty planning of Industries and Commerce Department has virtually sabotaged the Magnasite Unit at Panthal Katra in-spite of spending Rs 60 crore on project started 30 years ago simply because the department failed to ascertain the viability of the project now the pointed out by the Shrine Board which can cause irreparable damage to the sacred cave.
"Industries and Commerce deparrment vide Government order No. 398_MNG of 1998 dated 30-12-1998 granted lease of Mangnesite/ Dolomite in favour of National Mineral Development Corporation in the Panthal area over and area of 485.3 hectares, "Minister in-charge Industries and Commerce Department informed through a written reply to MLC Jugal Kishore Sharma question in Legislative Council.
Minister also informed that J&K Mineral Development Corporation Limited (JKMDC) a Navratna Company under the Ministry of Steel, Government of India) and J&K Minerals Limited has acquired land at Panthal, District Reasi for setting up Dead Burn Mangnesite Plant. After acquiring the land, an effort was made for setting up the Plant and in this connection Environment clearance from ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change and also consent to Establishing (CTE) from J&K State Pollution Control Board for the Plant was obtained. The company completed site development works and constructed major buildings and other infrastructure works. So far an amount of Rs 60 crores has been invested in the project.
Minister in charge also informed through written reply that Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) vide its letter dated 26.11.2009 had raised demand of Rs.2, 35, 69,143, 70 with regard to cost of trees, cost of compensatory afforestation, outstanding amount on account of unauthorized falling of trees during 1993 and net value of land measuring 26.42 hectares and had asked for depositing the said amount by the NMDC before prior approval from the State Forest Department and other regulatory clearances are obtained.
Subsequently the lease was renewed for a further period of ten years vide Government order No. 14-IND of 2010 dated 14.1.2 010 in joint venture with the following conditions. 1 That the NMDC shall pay the Shrine Board requisite funds as per the demand raised by the Shrine Board to cover the cost of the felled trees as well as the compensatory afforestation that is required to be carried out in the area in the year 2010. ii) That the NMDC shall also pay the present Value of land measuring 26.42 hectares to SMVDSB as per the demand raised by the Shrine Board.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests vide his letter dated 19.8.2015 addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB had requested for consent/NOC from the SMVDSB before the case is placed in the meeting of Forest Advisory Committee. Application for tree felling permission in the mine area was processed as per J&K Forest Conservation Act. After completion of all necessary formalities, Forest Department requested Shrine Board during August 2015 for their consent/NOC before the case is placed in the meeting of Forest Advisory Committee for approval.
SMVDSB vide its letter dated 17.10.2015 addressed to the Chief Conservator of Forests had stated that the proposed site of mining is its close proximity of the reversed Cave Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi and any mining activity with open cast blasting may have adverse impact on the Cave Shrine apart from other various environmental concern and also intimated that his predecessor had taken up the issue with Ministry of Environment and Forests for reconsideration of the environment clearance given to the project and accordingly Forest Department intimated that NOC cannot be conveyed for this project.
Ministry of environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India vide its letter no. J-110011/348/2009-IA.II (I) dated 29.20.2016 withdrew the Environment clearance granted top the project.
Responding to another question through written reply, it was stated that J&KMDC is willing to start the project but for want of Environment Clearance.


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