Informist, Friday, Jun 16, 2023
--Source:Green panel asks JSW Steel to address working group findings
--Source:Green panel to review new plan for JSW Steel Odisha unit soon
By Narayana Krishna and Sunil Raghu
HYDERABAD/AHMEDABAD - The expert appraisal committee of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has asked JSW Steel to submit a fresh proposal for its planned, 650-bln-rupee integrated steel project in Odisha after addressing the issues raised by a five-member working group appointed by the ministry, sources told Informist.
JSW Steel, through its wholly-owned subsidiary JSW Utkal Steel Ltd, plans to set up an integrated steel plant in Odisha with a capacity of 13.2 mln tn and associated infrastructure.
Besides the integrated steel plant, JSW Steel is also planning to set up a cement-grinding unit with a capacity of 10 mln tn per annum and a captive power plant with a capacity of 900 MW in Odisha. Further, the company plans to set up an all-weather multi-cargo greenfield captive jetty at the Jatadhari Muhan river with a capacity of 52 mln tn per annum.
After receiving the environmental clearance from the ministry on Apr 12, 2022, the company was set to begin work on it as soon as the Odisha government handed over the required land.
However, activist Prafulla Samantara challenged the environmental clearance before the National Green Tribunal. On Mar 20, the tribunal suspended the environmental clearance and reverted the matter to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for fresh appraisal.
After a series of meetings during Apr-May, a five-member working group appointed by the environment ministry submitted its report. The report has now been reviewed by the ministry's expert appraisal committee, sources said.
The company did not reply to an email sent by Informist.
The key concerns submitted before the expert appraisal committee include the use of fresh water for the project from Mahanadi river at a time when drinking water is scarce, and the fact that the jetty is planned to be located within 500 mtr of the already operational Paradeep port, which could add to pollution concerns.
The expert appraisal committee now wants the company to submit documents that establish balanced water use from a new source of water, Chowdhurigada river, instead of Mahanadi river as proposed earlier.
The panel also wants the company to revisit its water consumption estimates and provide details. The company has been advised to formulate an action plan to reduce its "water footprint" by way of minimising, recycling, conservation, among others.
Further, the company has been asked to prepare a detailed report on the environment management plan for abatement of pollution in the industrial area of Paradeep. Detailed reports and action plans have been sought on its proposed decarbonisation programme, including not letting carbon dioxide escape into the atmosphere after calcination.
Once the new proposal is submitted by JSW Steel, the green panel will take it up for a fresh review, sources said.
JSW Steel has a total steel manufacturing capacity of 28.5 mln tn a year and intends to increase this to 38.5 mln tn by 2024-25 (Apr-Mar), according to information on its website. Of the total capacity, 12 mln tn a year is accounted for by a single unit in Vijayanagara district in Karnataka.
At 1054 IST, shares of JSW Steel traded 0.6% higher at 775.30 rupees on the National Stock Exchange. End
IST, or Indian Standard Time, is five-and-a-half hours ahead of GMT
Edited by Namrata Rao
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