It is the first major cancellation of environment clearance for a project by minister Jayanthi Natarajan and comes at the time when Goa chief minister Digambar Kamat is under attack for alleged illegal mining scam in the state.
The ministry on Wednesday informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) about the decision saying the clearance for two million per annum iron ore mine of the company in north Goa in 2009 was granted on basis of deficient Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report.
The EIA report - basis for appraising projects for environment clearance - failed to mention presence of river Chapora, forests, requirement to divert a road and presence of wildlife such as elephants, bison and peacocks close to project area. The report had said that Indian rat, common mouse, mangoose and rhesus were found in the project area and there were no classified forests.
“The project proponent and the EIA Consultant deliberately did not mention the presence of schedule species in the EIA so as to undermine the ecological value of the area," Pirna Naroda Nagrik Kruti Samiti said in its petition with the NGT. Read the full report here.
Source: HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times, New Delhi.
