Lok Sabha Question No. 66 (STARRED), answered on 2021-02-05
Subject: Environmental Clearance for Bauxite Mining
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION N0. 66

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2021

## Environmental Clearance for Bauxite Mining

## *66.    SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  give  environmental  clearance  for  Bauxite mining at Serubandha Mines in Pottangi, Odisha;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the  Government  has  taken  note of  the  protests  by  local  tribals  against  the proposed expansion of Bauxite mining in Kodingamali (Koraput);and
- (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  address  the concerns of local tribals?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARAS (A) to (D) OF LOK SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  66  DUE  FOR  REPLY  ON  05.02.2021  REGARDING 'ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE FOR BAUXITE MINING' BY SHRI SAPTAGIRI SANKAR ULAKA :

(a) & (b) There is a set process for granting the Environmental Clearance to the projects or activities as defined in EIA notification, 2006. The process includes four stages viz- a-viz(i) Screening, (ii) Scoping, (iii) Public Consultation, (iv) Appraisal;

As per the process defined in Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) Notification, 2006 and its  amendments,  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  has  received  two applications in Pottangi Tehsil in Odisha for grant of Terms of Reference for preparation of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)andEnvironmental Management Plan (EMP)reports. Details are as follows:

- (i)  Pottangi  Bauxite  Mine  with  production  capacity  of  3.5Million  Tons  Per  Annum (MTPA) by M/s National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), located at Pottangi Village, Pottangi Tehsil, Koraput District, Odisha from the mine lease area of 697.979 ha and Terms of Reference granted on 28th June, 2018.
- (ii)  Maliparbat  Bauxite  Mine,  for  Enhancement  of  Production  of  Bauxite  From  0.6 MTPA to 0.9 MTPA from the Mine Lease Area: 268.110 Ha) at Aligaon-Kankaramba Village,  Pottangi  Tehsil,  Koraput  District,  Odisha  State  by  M/s  Hindalco  Industries Limited. The proposal has been recommended by the Expert Appraisal Committee for grant of Terms of Reference (ToR).
- (c) & (d) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has received written objection by  the  'Kodingamali  affected  area  people'  not  to  hold  Public  Hearing.    Accordingly, Ministry  has  sent  a  letter  dated  11 th January,  2021  to  Member  Secretary,  Odisha  State Pollution Control Board to take necessary action in the matter and intimate the action taken to the  Ministry.    Odisha State  Pollution  Control  Board  vide letter dated  01/02/2021  informed that  Kodingamali  Bauxite  Mine  of  M/s.  Odisha  Mining  Corporation  (OMC)  Limited  has proposed for expansion of production capacity from 3.0 Million Tons Per Annum (MTPA) to 6.0 MTPA in the mine lease area of 428.075 ha located in Koraput and Rayagada District, Odisha.  Public  hearing  for  the  district  of  Koraput  was  scheduled  to  be  held  on  2/12/2020 which was postponed due to law and order situation.

It  is  pertinent  to  mention  that  public  hearing  is  required  to  be  carried  out  to  ascertain  the concerns  of  local  affected  persons.  As  per  the  provisions  of  EIA  Notification  2006,  after completion  of  the  public  consultation,  the  final  EIA  report,  after  addressing  all  material concerns  expressed  during  the  process,  is  required  to  be  submitted  by  the  applicant  to  the Ministry for appraisal.

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