Following the committee’s report, a study was initiated in the Saranda forest to assess its carrying capacity and suggest limits on mining of ores.
Until this study was completed and a sustainable mining plan was formulated, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) decided not to accept any new proposals for the grant of forest clearance.
In other words, during this period, the area sought to be mined by ArcelorMittal India was not available for mining. The sustainable mining plan was only finalised in 2018. By then, the cut-off date for ArcelorMittal to get its clearances had expired, the Court found.
“The Carrying Capacity Study was completed in August, 2016 and the Sustainable Mining Plan was finalised in June, 2018. Therefore, it is only after the entire exercise was completed that the mining zones were identified. Therefore, it cannot be claimed by the petitioner that the area in question was available for mining prior thereto,” the Court explained.
Source: Barandbench
