Patnaik welcomes clearance for Posco project
By IANSMonday, January 31, 2011
BHUBANESWAR - Welcoming the clearance to the Posco project in the state, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Monday said his government will study the conditions laid down by the central environment ministry.
“The union ministry of forest and environment has given conditional clearance to the Posco project. We will study those conditions and see what can be done” Patnaik told reporters.
“On the face of it, it seems to be good news” he said.
The environment ministry gave conditional clearance to Posco’s project in Orissa’s coastal district of Jagatsinghpur. It is the biggest foreign direct investment in the country.
Posco is an integrated steel, mining and port project and separate clearances had to be given to all three. It also comprises a captive power plant to provide electricity to the steel plant.
Thousands of villagers have been opposing the project, saying it will displace them from their homelands and ruin their betel leaf farms.
The environment ministry earlier put the entire project on hold, citing violations of environment and forest laws by the company.
