Green Tribunal suspends environmental clearance to POSCO

The environment clearance granted to Posco's mega steel project in Orissa in January 2011 will remain suspended till the environment ministry reviews it afresh, the National Green Tribunal held March 30. "The environment clearance granted on January 31, 2011 to the project shall remain suspended till such review and appraisal is done by the ministry," a bench of tribunal comprising Justice C V Ramulu and Devendra Kumar Agarwal held.

The tribunal pointed out that memorandum of understanding between the Orissa government and Posco states that the project is for production of 12 million tonnes of steel per annum (MTPA) but the environment impact assessment (EIA) report has been prepared only for 4 MTPA steel production in the first phase.

It said the MoEF should take "policy decision" that in projects of such magnitude the EIA should be done for the complete project. "The EIA should assess it for the full capacity right from the beginning," it said.

The tribunal directed the MoEF to review the clearance afresh and attach "specific conditions" which Posco would have to follow in a "defined timeline".  It also directed the MoEF to set up a special committee to "monitor the compliance to the environment clearance" thus granted. The bench said appointment of Meena Gupta as chairman of the committee to review the environmental clearance showed "departmental bias" as she had only "supported" the environment clearance granted to Posco earlier during her tenure as the Secretary, the MoEF. "The entire process was vitiated in the eyes of law," the bench said in this regard.

The tribunal also said that the project proponent should generate its own source of water instead of utilising the drinking water meant for the Cuttack city in Orissa.b "In the country drinking water is scarce. It would be better to ask the project proponent to generate its own source of water. Avoiding utilising water meant for Cuttack city could be asked by the ministry," it said.

The order came on a plea filed by environment activist Prafulla Samantray seeking quashing of the environmental clearance granted to Posco on the ground that it was "contrary to the provisions of the EIA Notification 2006" and was "illegal and arbitrary".

Advocate Ritwick Dutta, appearing for the petitioner, had said that impact on environment in case of steel production by the plant to its full capacity would be much more. Prafulla, in his petition said, "It is admitted that the project will not be viable if it is restricted to the steel production of only 4 MTPA. In such circumstances, the EIA report should have been for 12 MTPA (of steel production). The project proponent has opted to do an EIA for 4 MTPA since the likely impact of 12 MTPA is bound to be much more and very significant". Posco India Pvt Ltd was granted environmental clearance for its two projects, steel-cum-captive power plant project and captive minor port, in Jagatsinghpur district of Orissa in 2007. The MoEF after reviewing the same, granted environmental clearance with additional conditions on January 31, 2011 which prompted the petitioner to move the tribunal.

The clearance was assailed contending that "the whole approach of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) was not to give an unbiased opinion, but rather to justify the decision to grant environmental clearance to both the projects."

The Environment Ministry, however, had told the tribunal there was no infirmity in its decision to grant environmental clearance to Posco. Posco had also maintained that it has not violated any law and is working in compliance with the norms.

Source: The Pioneer

10 lakh peopel throng TaraTarini Hill Shrine on third Tuesday of Chaitra in Odisha

 

 

The Third Tuesday of the month of Chaitra, also considered as the holiest day in the religious calendar of the Tara Tarini Hill Shrine witnessed a sea of devotees. The massive congregation at this Shrine, also famous as the breast shrine and considered as one amongst the four major ancient Shakti Peethas in India, filled the air with religious fervor and devotion. The ongoing Navratri puja coinciding with the Chaitra festivities further added to the enthusiasm among the people. Stream of visitors thronged the famous Shakti Shrine from the wee hours till late in the evening and the police administration toiled hard to control the crowd and maintain law and order.

The estimated number of visitors this year has far exceeded the gathering witnessed in previous years with more than 5 lakh people reaching the temple on the hill-top while an equal number of people taking part in the fair on the foothill and on the banks of river Rushikulya.

Thousands of kids tonsured their head as per the age-old belief associated with this Shrine.

Following the tradition associated with Chaitra festivals, people from far and wide were seen cooking food with their family members as thanksgiving to the goddesses on fulfillment of their desires. This is undoubtedly tradition unique of its kind in the country where such large number of people indulge in cooking and which has become an integral part of the Chaitra festivities in Tara Tarini.

The rural fair and temporary shops all across the roads leading to the Temple is another attraction which added to the rush and by noon time the heavy police deployment proved inadequate in front of a congregation of this magnitude. However, the day passed off peacefully without any untoward incident.

The development activities taken up by the Tara Tarini Development Board in recent years helped in ensuring better amenities and services for the devotees this year. Infact, some development projects were also inaugurated on this occasion including the long awaited ring road, street lighting and bathing Ghats on the banks of River Rushikulya which were thrown open for the public.

Keeping in mind the expected gathering, the temple administration made elaborate arrangements for transport, food and water with the help of large number of volunteers. The local administration took all possible measures through heavy deployment of police forces, ambulances and fire brigade. Many senior officials of the state government, district administration and peoples’ representatives visited the Shrine on this occasion to seek blessings of Maa.

During Naveen era law & order situation worsened in Odisha

Three rapes and four murders a day in the State

Every day, on an average, three rapes, four murders and 24 theft cases are reported in Odisha which recorded the highest-ever number of cognizable offences during the year 2011.

However, the State Government claimed that there was an improvement in the situation in many areas during 2011, especially in its Endeavour to combat leftwing extremism.

According to a White Paper on the crime situation and law and order during 2011, which was circulated in the State Assembly on Wednesday, crimes increased by 7.4 per cent in 2011 compared to 2010. A total of 73,630 cognisable cases were reported during 2011 compared to 68,508 in 2010.

The report even admitted that there was a reduction in the detection of crimes. During 2011, the percentage of detection was 84.1 against 85.3 during 2010. The White Paper stated that during 2011, there was increase in rape, murder, robbery, burglary and dowry cases in the State. However, there was a reduction of cases of rioting, motor accidents.

The report said murder marginally increased by 12.9 per cent over the previous year with reports of 1,477 murder cases in 2011 against 1,308 in 2010. There was also a decrease in detection of crimes with only 86 per cent against 87.1 per cent in 2010. During 2011, as many as 1,112 rape cases were registered against 1,025 in 2010.  The rape cases increased by 8.4 per cent in 2011 compared to 2010. There was also a decrease in detection of rape cases. The percentage of detection was 93.6 against 94.7 during 2010.

As many as 501 dacoity cases were reported during 2011 compared to 463 in 2010. The crime increased by 8.2 per cent. As many as 1,583 robbery cases were reported in 2011 compared to 1,491 in 2010. The number of burglary was 3,031 in 2011 compared to 2,855 in 2010. As many as 8,724 theft cases were reported during the year against 7,572 in 2010. However, there has been a decrease in rioting with 1,556 cases during the year compared to 1,779 cases in 2010.

Maoist activities, the report said 23 ultras were neutralised in police action, 146 were arrested and 50 surrendered. Besides, 127 weapons, 258 IDs and large quantities of explosives and ammunitions were recovered during 2011.

It said that while a number of camps and hideouts of Maoists were raided and destroyed, the impact of proactive initiatives was discernible in many areas where violence came down visibly. Importantly, not a single major oarganised Maoist attack on security forces took place during the year. The report claimed that the lawless activities of the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh, an offshoot of the CPI (Maoist).

Source: The Pioneer

3 Lakhs of devotees throng TaraTarini Hill Shrine on Second Tuesday of Chaitra

Famous Chaitra festival begins at Tara Tarini Hill Shrine in Odisha

The month long famous Chaitra festivals started at the Tara Tarini Hill Shrine near Berhampur city in Odisha, with the chanting of traditional Mantras on the first Tuesday. The festivities started at this shrine from Monday midnight itself with the priests performing the Snana and Majana of the Goddesses. After Sahasra Arati, Panchamruta Puja and Parikrama ceremonies, the sanctum sanctorum of the Tara Tarini Shrine, considered as the Breast Shrine of Adi Shakti, was thrown open for Darshan of devotees.

Thousands of people, who gathered a day before, got the chance of Madhya Ratra Darshan. The first Tuesday of this month saw heavy crowd around the Hill Shrine from the wee hours till late evening, with lacs of devotees thronging the Shrine from every nook and corner of the state and outside. Noteworthy that all the four Tuesdays of this month are considered sacred by the devotees.

Thousands of kids tonsured their heads as per the age-old belief of offering the hair of newborns.  Khichdi Prasad was distributed to the devotees coming to the Shrine and the fair of rural artisans also attracted many people.

The Special Secretary of Odisha Chief Minister Shri Kartikeyan Pandian, officials of Ganjam district administration, all the office bearers of TTDB and Tara Tarini temple administration were present during this occasion. Heavy police Bandobast was made to avert any untoward incident and control the huge number of devotees. The district administration made arrangements to control traffic in and around the hill shrine.

On this occasion the newly constructed ring road was opened for general traffic. This road has been constructed to decongest the traffic around the shrine with the special assistance from government of Odisha. Two other important roads, one connecting the Keshpur Junction to the foothill and the newly constructed Ghat road to the hilltop were also thrown open on this occasion.

TTDB welcomes devotees to the famous Chaitra Parva at Tara Tarini Hill Shrine