NMDC seeks forest land diversion for water pollution control facilities

NMDC Ltd is awaiting forest clearance for diversion of 4.2 hectares of land for setting up water pollution control facilities at its Bacheli Township in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh.

The company has already acquired environment clearance for its proposed Beneficiation plant at Bacheli, official sources informed.

Notably, NMDC's Ore Processing Plant at Bacheli will be interconnected by a Slurry Pipeline System between Bacheli and Nagarnar, they informed.

The company which is also in the process of laying a 15 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) slurry pipeline is executing the project in two phases.

The first phase is being executed from Bacheli to Nagarnar in Bastar at an estimated outlay of Rs 4,000 crore; and the second phase will be executed from Nagarnar to Vizag in Andhra Pradesh at an outlay of Rs 6,000 crore, officials informed.

Notably, to transport pellet feed concentrate from Bailadila to Vizag via Jagdalpur, the company will have the pipeline laid along the highways with a provision of partial off-take to feed its proposed 3 MTPA Steel plant coming up at Nagarnar.

NMDC is operating iron ore mines at Bailadila Complex in South Bastar Dantewada District and is having long term commitment for supply of iron ore to major steel plants across the country.

Hence, J.V. Company between NMDC and Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation (CMDC) i.e NMDC-CMDC (NCL) was formed for development of a new deposit in the already prospected areas i.e Bailadila Deposit-4 with a production capacity of 7 MTPA for meeting the iron ore requirement of Steel plant of NMDC at Nagarnar, near Jagdalpur.