‘Expedite forest clearance process’

BHUBANESWAR: THE State Government has directed the Forest Department to expedite the process of forest clearance to avoid time and cost overrun of projects. The issue was discussed at a high-level meeting at the State Secretariat presided over by Chief Secretary AP Padhi.Official sources said, the Chief Secretary directed the officials to expedite the process so that the projects can be completed in time. The promoters of projects were also advised to submit the compliances on the web portal in time. Time limit was fixed for completion of the proposals against each project and their onward transmission to the Centre.

The Chief Secretary also directed the officials to create a land bank for compensatory afforestation. Issues relating to use of forest land and compensatory afforestation were discussed. Official sources said, around 66 ongoing major projects have got forest clearance. Out of these, 33 have got Stage-1 forest clearance and 33 have got State-II forest clearance. These projects are being implemented through the departments of Steel and Mines, Energy, Works, Industry and Water Resources, National Highway Authority India (NHAI) and Ministry of Railways. The Chief Secretary asked the officials to complete the ground level work for Stage-II clearance and submit to the Centre within prescribed time limit.

Projects waiting for Stage-I forest clearance were discussed at the meeting. The major projects included Chandikhol-Duburi Talcher section of National Highway (NH), Baharagora-Singara section of NH-6, Binjhabahal-Tileibani section of NH-6, Singara-Binhjabahal section of NH-6, Biramitrapur-Barkote section of NH-23, Balasore-Baripada-Jharpokharia section of NH-5, Pallahara bypass, Balangir-Sonepur section of NH-57, Talcher-Bimlagarh new railway line, widening and strengthening of Rairangpur-Jasipura section of NH-220, Khurda Road-Balangir railway line, doubling of Sambalpur-Talcher and doubling of Sambalpur-Titilagarh railway lines.

Development Commissioner R Balakrishnan, Additional Chief Secretary Forest and Environment Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, Principal Secretary in the Steel and Mines Department Raj Kumar Sharma, Principal Secretary in the Industry  Sanjeeb Chopra, member secretary of Odisha State Pollution Control Board Debidatta Biswal and senior officials attended the meeting.