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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