As a major outcome from West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s first meeting with PM Narendra Modi on Monday, the environment ministry has cleared the way for 43 projects – spanning coal, power, oil and steel industries to hit road in the state.
Power sector got a major breakthrough with clearances to NTPC’s plan for expanding the Farakka project by adding another 500 mw unit. DVC ‘s 2,340 MW Mejia power station received green nod to procure additional nod for building an ash pond. Clearance for diverting forest land in three divisions was given to Teesta Valley Power Transmission Ltd for laying high-power transmission link.
In steel, major beneficiaries included IISCo which was granted authorization for its extension planned in phases. Several other sponge iron and steel projects in the private sector also received environment clearance. Coal was another sector that received a major dose of clearances. Eastern Coalfields Ltd was one of the major beneficiaries in the Central sector, while Bengal Emta was a key gainer in the private sector with permission to divert over 101 hectare forest land for its project in Birbhum.
One project that stood out was the Mumbai-based Hiranadani Group’s plan to set up an offshore terminal off the coast of Digha for importing gas in ships. State-run explorer ONGC also received clearance to start exploratory drilling in three blocks – DWN-2009/18, WB-ONN-2005/4 and PA-ONN-2005/2.
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