Nalco Seeks Consent To Operate For Panchapatmali Mines

BHUBANESWAR: The State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), Odisha has asked the aluminium major Nalco to furnish relevant documents to get consent to operate for Panchapatmali bauxite mines in Koraput district.

Nalco has sought permission of SPCB for consent to operate for the extended land of Panchapatmali mines, said the pollution board sources.

It has asked Nalco to furnish stage-II forest clearance for the balance forest land of 79.525 ha and also indicate whether the proposed quarry area is within diverted forest land.

SPCB has also asked to implement the basic air and water pollution control measures and submit a report in this regard for verification by the board.

Notably, the Odisha Government has allowed renewal of the mining lease of the bauxite mines to be valid till March 31, 2020.

The government allowed the first renewal of Panchpatmali (Central and North block) bauxite mine over an area of 1,313.363 hectares in 2015.