Odisha: Industry body urges OSPCB for virtual hearings

BHUBANESWAR: The Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) has written to the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) requesting it to find a suitable alternative to physical public hearings for granting environment clearances.
In view of the prevalent Covid-19 situation, the OSPCB has cancelled the public hearings for mining and industrial projects.The CII and the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI) have also urged the forest and environment ministry to intervene in the matter and allow virtual public hearings.
“The cancellation order of the OSPCB has affected 10 projects, whose public hearings were scheduled between April 14 and June 30. These have the capacity to enhance iron ore production to 25.86 metric tonne per annum, which can help generate Rs 3,600 crore revenue every year. The cancellation of the hearings will affect the employment generation in the respective regions as well,” Manish Kharbanda, CII chairman (Odisha state council), argued.
He added that as an alternative, which has also been endorsed by the ministry of forest and environment, public hearing can be held using the virtual platform.