Time Extended for JSPL to Respond to Show-cause Notice

The Indian Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) in December 2010 extended the time allowed to Jindal Steel and Power (JSPL) to respond to a show-cause notice on why environmental clearance for the company’s proposed steel project at Angul. The MoEF granted two weeks to JSPL to file the response to the showcause notice and fixed the date for a personal hearing on December 29. JSPL had sought more time on the plea as its senior officers had either left the organisation  as a result of the location of the project site, which is 170 km from Bhubaneshwar and also due to non-availability of educational, medical and other facilities.

Naveen Jindalcontrolled JSPL is alleged of flouting forest norms while initiating work on the 6-million tonne steel plant and the 1000-megawatt power plant. The show-cause notice was issued under Section 5 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, for revocation of the clearance.