Plan for 100 cement plants on Parsik hill to be probed
NatConnect Foundation approached Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, urging rejection of these proposals and cessation of forest area violations.
According to NatConnect director B N Kumar, Navi Mumbai's expansion, particularly around the hill's former MIDC industrial zones, is transforming into substantial residential and commercial developments, including tall buildings and IT facilities.
The city's Air Quality Index already exceeds WHO standards, and Kumar emphasised that establishing ready-mix cement plants would create unsuitable conditions in a developing urban area.
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The FPD instructed the principal chief conservator of forests to evaluate the situation and implement appropriate measures according to current regulations, requesting prompt communication of action taken.
Quarrying activities on over 260 hectares were previously halted following a National Green Tribunal ruling in September 2017 requiring environmental clearance.
Earlier attempts to resume quarrying operations were blocked by the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority, then led by former IAS officer Vijay Nahata, following environmental protests.
NatConnect expressed serious concerns about the RMC proposal, warning of potential air and noise pollution in the city. The forest department previously permitted use of 138.07 hectares in Parsik Hill for minor minerals extraction in 2006.
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Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
From ‘punishment posting' to next steel powerhouse: CM Devendra Fadnavis inaugurates several projects in Gadchiroli
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Tuesday that Gadchiroli, once regarded as the state's most backward region – often known to be the place for 'punishment postings' – is now set to become the country's next steel powerhouse, driven by developments from Lloyds Metals and Energy and a model of growth rooted in local employment, conservation, and inclusivity. Fadnavis was speaking at Konsari village in Gadchiroli's Chamorshi taluka on Tuesday where he inaugurated several projects of Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd (LMEL). He also laid the foundation stone for the company's mega integrated steel plant. Addressing a public gathering, Fadnavis lauded LMEL's managing director B Prabhakaran for 'walking with society', and making all employees stakeholders in the company's success. 'This is not just industrial development, this is transformation. Every employee is also a shareholder,' he said. Fadnavis praised the police and the people of Gadchiroli for standing by the Constitution and the democratic system and not with Maoists, who have been thriving in the area for decades. 'Today, even former Naxals are working at Lloyds plant. The Naxal network has been broken, only a few remain, and they too must surrender,' he appealed. The chief minister, however, cautioned against what he termed 'urban Maoism', referring to alleged misinformation campaigns on social media that claimed tribal land was forcibly acquired and forests destroyed in Gadchiroli. 'These are not voices from Gadchiroli, they are just a few people based in cities like Bengaluru and Kolkata, who are being funded from abroad, trying to keep Adivasis poor, backward, and enslaved,' he said. Reaffirming his government's commitment, Fadnavis said, 'We will not rest until Gadchiroli becomes the number one district in Maharashtra. The next five years will see income levels rise and lives change in ways people once thought was impossible.' Drawing inspiration from Dr B R Ambedkar's vision, Fadnavis said the transformation underway in Gadchiroli reflects the vision of India's Constitution. 'This is the real struggle, not just against poverty or underdevelopment, but against a mindset that wants to keep tribal India in the past.' Mining operations began in Gadchiroli around 2016-17, following official approvals. Since then, Lloyds has played a key role in establishing an end-to-end steel ecosystem in the district, he added. 'We didn't want Gadchiroli to remain just a resource supplier for industries outside, where it would face enormous pollution at the cost of development. Our vision was and is to benefit local youth and help them get jobs here,' Fadnavis said. He said over 14,000 local youths are now employed with the company. The BJP leader also shared stories of local women who started in housekeeping roles and now drive heavy Volvo trucks, earning over Rs 55,000 per month. He also noted that some women will be operating pellet trucks, breaking barriers in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Fadnavis also announced the bhoomi pujan for an upcoming integrated steel plant, which will generate another 20,000 jobs. The project, he informed, will be completed in 30 months. He also highlighted collaborations between Gondwana University and an Australian university to train youth in advanced mining technologies. 'Students will study partly in Australia and partly in Gadchiroli. Soon the students of Gadchiroli studying at the institute will be known as the best mining engineers of India,' he added. 'May it be a pellet plant, or a slurry pipeline, another conversation I had with B Prabhakaran was that we need to develop the region, but 'jal, jamin, and jungle' (water, land, and forest), which is the identity of Gadchiroli, needs to be preserved. There should not be destruction of this wealth. We need to try and ensure that there is no pollution which harms the beauty of this region,' said Fadnavis. Responding to concerns about environmental impact, Fadnavis underlined that the Gadchiroli model is based on 'green growth.' He stressed that an 80-kilometre slurry pipeline has been installed by Lloyds to prevent pollution. He was concerned that the slurry could be a cause of concern for environmental pollution, but the pipeline made it look easy. He said the region will soon transition to electric vehicles for most industrial movements. Fadnavis also announced a mega plantation drive, with 1 crore trees to be planted over the next two years, starting with 40 lakh saplings on Tuesday. He also hinted that a nursery similar to those in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, will also be established to ensure a high survival rate of planted saplings. The chief minister said the state government's Rs 5 lakh health insurance scheme will be functional in Gadchiroli as the company is keen to build a new hospital in the region. A school will also be constructed. 'Gadchiroli has the potential to produce better steel than China, and that too, green steel,' Fadnavis claimed, reaffirming the push for reducing dependence on gas and coal. Gadchiroli Joint Guardian Minister Ashish Jaiswal, MLAs Dharmaraobaba Atram and Milind Narote and others were present at the event
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Time of India
CM to launch 1 crore plantation drive, steel plant construction in Gadchiroli today
1 2 3 Nagpur: A plantation drive that should take care of 10% of the state's 10 crore saplings target for increasing green cover will commence at Gadchiroli on Tuesday. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis will kick-start the plantation of one crore saplings in the Maoist-affected district. On the same day, he will also lay the foundation stone of an integrated steel plant being built by Lloyds Metals and Energy Limited (LMEL) at Konsari village in the district. The steel plant is expected to bring an economic metamorphosis in the district. Gadchiroli district collector Avishyant Panda said, "We are ready with 40 lakh saplings which will be planted during this monsoon season itself. The remaining 60 lakh will be planted within two years, and nurseries are being readied to ensure that the target is met." He added, "This is not just a plantation campaign; it's a movement now." "The 40 lakh saplings have been mainly sourced from the forest department, specifically the Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM), which has a huge nursery bank. For the remaining 60 lakh, we have mobilised funds from the Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) too," said the collector. Later, at Konsari, after laying the foundation stone of the steel plant, Fadnavis will also inaugurate the first phase of a 5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) iron ore grinding plant at Hedri in Gadchiroli district, a 10 MTPA capacity slurry pipeline from Hedri to Konsari, and a 4.5 MTPA capacity pellet plant at Konsari. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 most beautiful women in the world Undo The integrated steel plant is proposed to have a capacity of 4.5 MTPA. Fadnavis will also inaugurate a 100-bedded hospital, a CBSE pattern school at Konsari, apart from performing a ground breaking ceremony of the company's township. The steel complex and other units by LMEL mark a new chapter for the district. It has emerged as a source of employment for locals, and even surrendered Maoists have taken up jobs in LMEL, said a note shared with TOI. They have been trained by the company in industry-oriented skills and absorbed into jobs to aid the process of integrating them into the mainstream of society. LMEL managing director B Prabhakaran said that more than 140 years ago, Gadchiroli could have been the birthplace of the Indian steel industry. Now, it's time for the district to shine. His statement referred to Jamsetji Tata's plan to start steel making at Gadchiroli, which was dropped as there was no rail connectivity at that time. The integrated steel plant, for which the foundation stone will be laid, is also a step towards the country's vision of making 'Green Steel', said Prabhakaran.
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Time of India
CM to launch 1 crore plantation drive, steel plant construction in Gadchiroli
Nagpur: A plantation drive that should take care of 10% of the state's 10 crore saplings target for increasing green cover will commence at Gadchiroli on Tuesday. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis will kick-start the plantation of one crore saplings in the Maoist-affected district. On the same day, he will also lay the foundation stone of an integrated steel plant being built by Lloyds Metals and Energy Limited (LMEL) at Konsari village in the district. The steel plant is expected to bring an economic metamorphosis in the district. Gadchiroli district collector Avishyant Panda said, "We are ready with 40 lakh saplings which will be planted during this monsoon season itself. The remaining 60 lakh will be planted within two years, and nurseries are being readied to ensure that the target is met." He added, "This is not just a plantation campaign; it's a movement now." "The 40 lakh saplings have been mainly sourced from the forest department, specifically the Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM), which has a huge nursery bank. For the remaining 60 lakh, we have mobilised funds from the Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) too," said the collector. Later, at Konsari, after laying the foundation stone of the steel plant, Fadnavis will also inaugurate the first phase of a 5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) iron ore grinding plant at Hedri in Gadchiroli district, a 10 MTPA capacity slurry pipeline from Hedri to Konsari, and a 4.5 MTPA capacity pellet plant at Konsari. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Extraspacious 3 and 4 BHKs from 6.76 Cr* in Mahalaxmi 7 Mahalaxmi, Runwal Group Book Now Undo The integrated steel plant is proposed to have a capacity of 4.5 MTPA. Fadnavis will also inaugurate a 100-bedded hospital, a CBSE pattern school at Konsari, apart from performing a ground breaking ceremony of the company's township. The steel complex and other units by LMEL mark a new chapter for the district. It has emerged as a source of employment for locals, and even surrendered Maoists have taken up jobs in LMEL, said a note shared with TOI. They have been trained by the company in industry-oriented skills and absorbed into jobs to aid the process of integrating them into the mainstream of society. LMEL managing director B Prabhakaran said that more than 140 years ago, Gadchiroli could have been the birthplace of the Indian steel industry. Now, it's time for the district to shine. His statement referred to Jamsetji Tata's plan to start steel making at Gadchiroli, which was dropped as there was no rail connectivity at that time. The integrated steel plant, for which the foundation stone will be laid, is also a step towards the country's vision of making 'Green Steel', said Prabhakaran.
