Proposal sent to DCF (South) for detailed scrutiny
PANAJI
The Forest Department’s project screening committee has approved the use of 65.97 hectares of forest land within the Codli iron ore mining block at Dharbandora, operated by JSW.
The Codli block, earlier run by Vedanta Ltd and Sociedade Timblo Irmaos Ltd, is the State’s largest mining area, spread over 377.08 hectares. A part of this forest land had been used in the past as well.
According to the User Agency’s submission, 65.97 hectares of the block are classified as forest, while the remaining 311.12 hectares fall under the non-forest category.
At its meeting last month, the committee agreed to move the proposal forward and sent it to the Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF), South, for a detailed review.
“The Committee has resolved to further process the proposal and send it to DCF (South) for scrutiny. The DCF should evaluate the proposal immediately after receiving the required undertakings and documents from the User Agency,” the panel stated.
JSW had sought permission to use the forested portion of the mining block before the lease agreement is finalised.
The proposal says 33.98 hectares of the total area contain minerals, while 343.10 hectares are non-mineralised. The mine is believed to hold 48.49 million metric tonnes of ore, along with 2.68 million metric tonnes of mining dumps.
During the discussion, the committee noted that the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary is only 1.52 km from the mining site. It therefore directed JSW to get an assessment of the ecological impact of diverting forest land from the relevant wildlife authority.
“The Committee observed that of the 377.0881 hectares of the Codli Mineral Block, 65.9686 hectares fall under forest land and the remaining 311.1195 hectares fall under non-forest land. The DCF (South) must verify this land status survey number wise with the help of the DCF (Working Plan),” the panel said.
JSW has also been asked to clearly mark a 7.5-metre safety zone along the inner boundary of the forest area proposed for diversion. This buffer must have DGPS-marked boundary pillars and be maintained as a functional green belt.
“Additionally, the User Agency must submit a year-wise plan for plantation activities within the green belt,” the committee added.
