Clearance to Posco project has ended all wild speculations over implementation of the country's biggest FDI in the state, Mohanty told reporters while reacting to yesterday's order of the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF).
The much-awaited central nod to forest land diversion proposal for the Posco project has opened up a new chapter in Orissa's industrialisation, said state steel and mines minister Raghunath Mohanty here today.
"Clearance to Posco project has ended all wild speculations over implementation of the country's biggest FDI in the state," a visibly jubilant Mohanty told reporters while reacting to yesterday's order of the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF).
Stating that the MoU with the South Korean steel major which lapsed on June 21, 2010 would be renewed soon, Mohanty said the state government would "examine" environment minister Jairam Ramesh's suggestions on the iron ore swapping clause.
"I would expect the revised MoU between the state and Posco would be negotiated in such a manner that export of raw materials are completely avoided," Ramesh said in the order.
On the union minister's suggestions to initiate action against Dhinkia sarpanch Sisir Mohapatra, Mohanty said, "The state government is seriously considering the matter".
Ramesh in his order sheet had also mentioned that he was expecting that the state government would immediately pursue action under the Orissa Gram Panchayat Act, 1964, against the Sarpanch, Dhinkia for what it (the state government) has categorically said are "fraudulent" acts.
Earlier, Ramesh on April 14 had put on hold on the forest clearance to the Posco project, basing on the allegations made by Mohapatra who alleged that the state government ignored the Palli Sabha (village council) resolution on the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
The state government, in its report to the MoEF, had stated that the Sarpanch mislead the Centre by submitting an "irregular" resolution of the village council.
To a question on the raw material requirement for Posco, Mohanty said, "The company could avail iron ore from open market till it gets mining license".
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