Press Trust of India reported that Odisha government re constituted the four member committee of experts to examine the steps needed to mitigate impact of tree cutting in coastal belt for setting up the mega steel plant by POSCO.

The notification issued by the steel and mines department said that "The government after careful consideration have been pleased to re constitute the committee to examine the steps to be taken as mitigating measures to protect the area (for which forest diversion proposal for the proposed steel plant by POSCO India is cleared by the apex court) from cyclone and other natural calamities due to cutting of large number of trees, especially from the coastal side.”

Member of Central Empowered Committee, Government of India, S K Patnaik will head it as chairman, while Chief Conservator of Forests (forest diversion and nodal officer, Forest Conservation Act), will act as member convenor.

The notification said that a representative of the Ministry of Environment and Forest and Director of (ST & SC) ST & SC Development department will function as members of the reconstituted committee.

A senior official said that "The committee will examine and issue and furnish their views, suggestions, reply to the state government immediately.”

Meanwhile, sources said over 600,000 trees and some 1,800 betel vines will have to be sacrificed to set up Posco's INR 52,000 crore mega steel project in Jagatsinghpur district. The trees to make way for the project include about three lakh casuarina and as many horticultural plants.

Source - Press Trust of India

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