BJD MLAs slam suspension of green clearance to Posco

Bhubaneswar: Members of different political parties cutting across party lines today expressed concern in the assembly over the suspension of environmental clearance to Posco-India`s proposed mega-steel plant near Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district. The issue was raised in the assembly during the zero hour when members of the treasury bench along with members of the NCP expressed concern over the fate of the Rs 52,000 crore project dubbed as the largest FDI in India. The members urged the government to clear doubts over the fate of the 12 MTPA capacity mega-steel plant.

"Suspension of environmental clearance to Posco steel project is a conspiracy against the interest of the state," accused former minister and Paradip MLA Dr Damodar Rout. Demanding a statement from the Steel and Mines Minister Raghunath Mohanty on the Posco-India project, Damodar Rout claimed that there was no forest in the proposed plant site as mentioned in the revenue record. Several other members of the ruling BJD alleged that the Centre was maintaining a double standard on Posco-India issue. The members alleged that on the one hand the Centre said it was interested for an early implementation of the project while it was very unfortunate but on the other hand that the National Green Tribunal suspended the green clearance to the mega-project.

Members from the Bharatiya Janata party urged that the state government must take the appropriate steps for the execution of the project in the interest of the state. Several Congress and NCP members emphasized that the judgement of the National Green Tribunal should be studied properly for future course of action on the part of the state government.