Chakkittapara panchayat says 'no' to iron ore mining project

KOZHIKODE: The Chakkittapara panchayat has rejected the request from Karnataka based-MSPL Ltd seeking sanction for the controversial iron ore mining project in 406.45 hectares of land in the ecologically-sensitive Western Ghats.
The CPM-controlled panchayat, which considered the private company's request on Monday, turned it down on the ground that mining would cause irreparable environmental damage in the area and was against public interest.
"The company had approached the panchayat seeking permission two months ago. They had sought a letter of permission from the panchayat to be submitted to the state industries department. The panchayat board rejected it considering the environmental issues involved as well as the opposition from local residents," K Sunil, vice-president of the Chakkittapara panchayat said.
The area was designated as an environmentally-sensitive zone by the Kasturirangan panel.
MSPL had recently revived its efforts for obtaining the needed clearances for the controversial mining project and had submitted an application to the ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) in March 2016, for environmental clearance for the Alampara Iron Ore mine project.
The previous UDF government had in 2013 cancelled the 'in- principle approval' for granting the mining lease for the company on the basis of the report by the Kozhikode district collector that the proposed mining will adversely affect the ecology and human settlement in the area.
The decision also came in the wake of allegations of corruption raised against former industries minister and CPM leader Elamaram Kareem in granting sanction for the project.
The Kerala high court had in February 2016 set aside the government order withdrawing the 'in- principle approval' citing that MSPL was not given sufficient opportunity to contradict the findings of the report by the Collector.
The Chakkittapara mining project involves setting up a 5 MTPA (million tonnees per annum) iron ore mine and 1.8 MTPA Beneficiation Plant.
The UDF members in the panchayat board said that only the six UDF members and the lone CPI member had raised objections against granting sanction for the project in the panchayat board meeting on Monday.
The Vigilance and Anti- Corruption Bureau had decided to drop the investigation into the allegations against Elamaram Kareem citing inconsistency in the statements of complainant.
MSPL was granted prior approval for mining of iron ore in Chakkittapara and at Mavoor and Kakkur in the district in 2010 for a period of 30 years.