MoEF panel defers clearance
The Union environment ministry’s expert panel has deferred environment clearance to a proposal for expansion of Kuber Industrial area in Kota in Rajasthan, just few kilometres away from a Tiger reserve and a Ghariyal sanctuary, on the ground that “sensitive wildlife in the close vicinity of the area could be endangered”.
While Tiger is already an endangered species, Ghariyal falls in the “critically endangered reptile” category.
A proposal for the expansion by 228.86 acre of the industrial area, Kuber, had been made recently. It was examined in the June 28- 29 meeting of the ministry’s Expert Appraisal Committee ( EAC) for projects related to infrastructure development, industrial estate and miscellaneous projects.
The minutes of the EAC meeting observed, “The area surrounding the proposed project area is highly sensitive from the environmental point of view. The Mukandara Hills Tiger Reserve is at a distance of less than 9 km from the project site. The Chambal Gharriyal Sanctuary is at a distance of 8.5 km. The project proponent has failed to submit the boundary of the protected areas.”
It added: “The sensitive wildlife in the close vicinity of the area could be endangered. The committee is of the considered view that the ministry may like to get the background PM- 10 ( a pollutant) study done through a third party if the project proponent wishes to pursue the request for environment clearance any further. The proposal was, therefore, deferred.”
The ministry officials said that project Kuber has been developed in phases between 1997 and 2006 in a total area of 536.75 acres. Currently, it consists of four different parks — industrial area, institutional area, agro food park phase- I and agro food park phase- II.
“This proposal for expansion is for housing of general engineering, stone processing ( polishing, cutting & Splitting) units, agro food processing units, service and ancillary industries, agro and food processing industries, non- polluting industries,” the ministry official added.