Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The Expert Appraisal Committee has sent back the Vedanta Ltd proposal for expanding its plant at Navelim-Amona due to several issues that have not been responded to by the company, including how it proposes to deal with the issues raised during the public hearing.
The EAC has also requested MoEF & CC to issue a Show Cause Notice to the Project Proponent for the non-compliance to the existing EC conditions as mentioned.
“Committee recommended to returning proposal in its present form to address the shortcomings as enumerated above. Further, PP is required to undertake necessary corrective action on the said non-compliances and the latest compliance report on the same from the concerned
Regional Office of MoEF & CC is required,” the EAC said.
Vedanta had moved EC for Up-Gradation of Blast Furnaces (BF) to enhance the production capacity (BF-1 & 2 from 2,92,000 TPA to 3,50,000 TPA; BF-3 from 5,40,000 TPA to 6,50,000 TPA); setting up of additional oxygen plant, installation of ductile iron pipe plant and additional met coke battery and setting up of Fe-Si plant of 5,000 TPA capacity.
The EAC has directed Vedanta to undertake a cumulative impact assessment study and revise the project’s current environmental impact assessment report.
The Committee also sought to know the failure of the project proponent to address the issues raised by the public during the public hearing regarding the project, which according to them, will cause massive pollution in the vicinity.
The capital cost of the proposed expansion project is about Rs. 701 Crores.
Vedanta Limited proposes to spend about Rs. 35.0 crores towards environmental protection measures with a recurring cost of about Rs. 5.0 crores.
The proposed expansion project will generate employment for 450 manpower, including a contractual basis.
