UCIL’s Jadugoda mine may not get green clearance

Jamshedpur: The Uranium Corporation of India Ltd (UCIL) that has sought a second lease renewal of its rich Jadugoda mine is unlikely to get a green signal.
The office of the regional chief conservator of forest has written to UCIL CMD Diwakar Acharya explaining him the status of Forest Conservation Act 1980 with regard to the Jadugoda mining project. “Despite the state government giving its nod to UCIL for the lease renewal of Jadugoda mine, it would be illegal to resume mining activity unless the company first secures the approval of the forest department,” said regional chief conservator of forest Y K Singh Chauhan on Friday.
Addressing a press conference at his office, the senior forest officer said UCIL had not secured forest conservation clearance since 1997. “Since the expiry of the first lease of Jadugoda mine in July 15, 1997, UCIL carried out mining activity till September 7, 2014, without the approval of the forest department,” said Chauhan, accusing the PSU of violating environment laws.
Presenting the documents of the previous lease deeds signed between UCIL and the state government, the IFS officer said following the original Jadugoda lease, which was granted by the erstwhile Bihar government for 20 years from 1967-1987, the first renewal of the lease was given only for a period of 10 years from 1987-1997.
“Even in case of the first lease renewal, UCIL took more than three years to submit necessary documents owing to which the lease renewal was granted from the back date (July 15, 1997) under rule one of the Penal Compensatory Afforestation section of Forest Conservation Act,” said Chauhan.
The forest officer reiterated that environment and forest clearance is primary and UCIL needs to take the requisite approval from the department if the company is keen to resume mining activity on the 1312 acres of Jadugora mine.