CCI cleared roadblocks for four big-ticket projects

Expressed concern over slow progress in according green clearances.

Expressing concern over several projects being virtually stranded due to slow progress in according environmental clearances,the Cabinet Committee on Investment CCI had on Tuesday cleared roadblocks for implementation of four big-ticket projects.

At its meeting,chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,the CCI,on Tuesday,asked the coal ministry to assist Sajjan Jindal-promoted JSW Steels Rohne coal project in Jharkhand by asking Central Coalfields Limited to grant the right to use its fallow land for evacuating coal from the captive mine. The project entails an estimated investment of Rs 30,000 crore.

However,for JSWs Ankua iron ore project,which is awaiting environmental nod,the CCI asked officials of ministry of environment and forests MoEF to expedite the clearance. For Naveen Jindal-promoted JSPLs Angul steel project in Orissa,the CCI asked the Railways to acquire land for the Sukhida railway project and expedite construction of the Haridaspur-Paradeep railway line and double the 117-km long Angul-Sambalpur line. The Railways has also been directed to secure the permission of Right of Way for nearly 205 km iron ore slurry pipeline from Barbil to Angul. The Angul project entails an overall investment of Rs 29,285 crore.

For the KSK Mahanadi project,it has asked the coal ministry to help signing of fuel supply agreement by seeking the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approval within a month. For JSPLs 1,200 MW Tamnar power project,which entails an investment of Rs 13,500 crore,the CCI has asked MoEF to consider expediting grant of environmental clearance to allow transportation of coal by road in Chhattisgarh.

For IndianOils Paradip refinery project in Orissa,entailing an investment of Rs 29,777 crore,the Cabinet Committee on Investment could not arrive at a decision as environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan wasnt present at the meeting. The MoEF needs to accord coastal regulatory zone clearance to firms pipeline from the jetty dock in the Bay of Bengal port to the refinery complex.

The MoEF should take a view that projects which can be granted environment or forestry clearances should be expressly given the same without delay, the CCI is learnt to have observed.