It is reported that South Korean steelmaker POSCO’s integrated plant in Orissa may get the environment ministry's clearance by September end.

The Environment Ministry, which appears to be of the view that projects by Vedanta and POSCO should be treated differently, has asked the Meena Gupta committee, appointed by it to assess complaints of violation of rules to submit its report by the third week of September.

While addressing a press conference, environment minister Mr Jairam Ramesh said the two projects cannot be equated. According to the minister, no tribal rights issue is involved in the POSCO’s project. He said that "The POSCO project involves issues of other forest dwellers and environmental clearance.

He said alleged forest rights violation at the project site were being currently investigated by a team appointed by the ministry and dismissed suggestions that the rejection of a Vedanta project will be compensated by approval for POSCO.

Mr Ramesh said that he understood the larger strategic implications of the POSCO project, even as he clarified that strategic interest doesn't translate into clearance.

(Sourced from Economic Times)