Public Hearing for GMDC’s proposed Baitarani-West Coal Project Successfully Completed

Chhendipada/Angul , 24/9:The Public Hearing for environmental clearance of Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC)’s proposed 15 MTPA Baitarani- West coal project has been successfully completed today. The public hearing conducted at the ground near Jagannath temple of Chhendipada. The affected villagers of proposed coal project participated in the public hearing and expressed their mass support for this Coal Project. The meeting was presided by Additional District Magistrate, Angul, Sh. Pratap Pritimaya. In this Public Hearing, the project affected people took part in large numbers and supported GMDC’s Baitarani West Coal Project and presented various demands. Dr. Ramesh Kumar Ekka, Regional Officer of State Pollution Control Board, Angul conducted the public hearing. 

In the beginning of the meeting, Sh. Swagat Ray, GM –GMDC briefed about the Company, the benefit of the project & various measures on protection of Environment. Company would invest 4445 crores in the project at Chhendipada, where 1752 employment opportunities will be created, where local affected populace will get priority. Along with this, thousands of indirect employment opportunities will be created & business opportunities will be created in this area.

Regular monitoring of environment along-with massive plantation will be done to reduce the environmental pollution within the possible limits.

The villagers present in the meeting welcomed the project and put their demand for employment on priority basis in the project. They also demanded to augment expenditure from CSR fund for the all-round development of the affected area.

The company assured the villagers to improve the socio-economic Condition of that area through CSR initiatives. Latest technology will be used to reduce the environmental pollution of the area.

Chhendipada MLA, Sh. Agasti Behera, Sarpanch Chhendipada, Sh. Sudipta Pradhan along with company’s Chief General Manager, Sh. H.K.Joshi, Odisha Head, Lt. General Sanjiv Sharma ,Baitarani West- Coal Project Chief, Brigadier Manu Mehrotra and GM- Sh. B.K.Mahato were present in the meeting.

The proposed coal project will be operational in Chhendipada Jungle,Handigoda, Podapada Jungle, Podapada, Machhakuta , Machhakuta Jungle and Tentuloi-Kodasahi.