Sundargarh: The public hearing for JSW subsidiary Bhushan Steel & Power Limited’s Netrabandha iron ore mines was conducted for environment clearance in presence of state government officials.
More than 500 villagers from periphery villages of Khajuridihi, Sonua, Baladihi and Patamunda of Netrabandha mines participated in the hearing held at Baladihi village under Koira block on Wednesday. Around 50 villagers expressed their opinion in favour of the project.
Deputy District Magistrate Pradeep Kumar Dang, Regional Officer of State Pollution Control Board, Rourkela Binod Bihari Das, scientist Vijay Kumar Bhoi and Koira tehsildar DS Subhadarshi Joshi were present at the public hearing. From the company’s side, JSW COO Ranjan Nayak, project head Ashesh Kumar Padhy, operation head BRK Padhi and others were present.
Besides, people’s representatives including Tushananda Kadali, Surendra Naik, Ashok Patra, Bipini Kadli, Damyanti Naik, Bonai MLA Laxman Munda, Chairman Suresh Naik, former Bonai MLA Bhimsen Chowdhury, former Bonai MLA Janardhan Dehuri and social worker Badal Barik were present and supported the project.
The company made it clear that there would be no displacement under this mining activity and it would use modern technology and adopt sustainable mining practices with effective environment management. Netrabandha Pahar block has geological reserves of 77.25 million tonne of which 61.9 million tonne are high grade deposits.
A company official said it is actively involved in development of peripheral villages even before the start of mining operation. The company has renovated Anganwadis and provided learning equipment. Besides, around 30 solar street lights have been installed and around 200 street lights are under installation process. The company is also addressing drinking water crisis by sinking bore-wells.
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