Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Govt rejects Congress MP Jindal's power project by Supriya Sharma

Govt rejects Congress MP Jindal's power project by Supriya Sharma

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Jun 25, 2010   modified Modified on Jun 25, 2010

It's perhaps the first time the Union government has rejected an industrial project floated by an MP of its own party. In fact, the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has asked Chhattisgarh government to take action against Congress MP and industrialist Naveen Jindal's company, Jindal Power Limited (JPL). Worse, a close look at the exchange between JPL and various government bodies shows the company persisted with the project despite violating multiple rules.

JPL is part of Jindal Group's steel and power empire. Raigarh, a district of Chhattisgarh bordering Orissa, is its most important hub. The group has built the world's largest sponge iron and steel plant here, and a 1000MW thermal power plant, often riding over local protests and allegations of violations.

As part of its expansion plans, the company wanted to build a 2400MW thermal power plant in Tamnar block of Raigarh, but a local environmentalist managed to prove the allegations this time around.

Ramesh Agrawal, the founder of a local environmental group Jan Chetana, wrote a series of letters to Union minister of environment Jairam Ramesh since March this year. He drew attention to the fact that JPL had started construction on the site of its proposed thermal power plant even before it had received environmental clearances.

A two-member team of the MoEF visited Raigarh on 22 May and found the allegations true. On 18 June, the ministry withdrew "terms of reference", in effect sending the proposal back to the company, and directing the state government to take action against it.

But even before the MoEF rejected the project, the company had run into trouble with the state government. As early as February 22, Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board (CECB) inspected the construction on the site and issued a directive to the company. “We asked them to stop work,'' said Baijendra Kumar, Chairman, CECB.

According to a Jindal group official, the company will be making a representation to the ministry of environment and forests and the state authorities. “We have not done any expansion and the construction is for setting up a stacker reclaimer for the existing 1000MW power plant and has nothing to do with the proposed 2400MW project. We are confident that the terms of reference of the ministry of environment and forests would be restored.''

Violations by Jindal

*Began construction on site
- before getting environmental clearance
- before getting NOC from CMDC
- before holding a public hearing
*Initial proposal said it will use 1041 hectares
*Later changed location to just 62 hectares of land
*Did not inform MoEF of change of location


The Times of India, 25 June, 2010, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Govt-rejects-Congress-MP-Jindals-power-project/articleshow/6088146.cms


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close