Gadchiroli Jan. 28 (District Correspondent) In the environmental public hearing for the expanded Surjagad iron project of Lloyds Metals and Energy Limited Company, the citizens unanimously gave their consent for this project.
The public hearing was held today at the Niyojan Bhavan at the collectorate premises in presence of Sarpanchas, citizens and public representatives from 30 villages in the area of the project.
District Collector Avishyant Panda was the chairman. MP Dr. Namdeo Kirsan, former minister and Aheri MLA Dharmaraobaba Atram, Armori MLA Ramdas Masram, Gadchiroli MLA Dr. Milind Narote, former MP Ashok Nete, former MLAs Dr. Devrao Holi, Deepak Atram, former ZP President Ajay Kankdalwar were prominently present.
Pursalgondi Sarpanch Aruna Sadmek, Todsa Sarpanch Vanita Korami, Deputy Sarpanch Prashant Atram, Nagulwadi Sarpanch Gawde, Burgi Sarpanch and Udera Sarpanch as well as all Gram Panchayat members, village Patils, Bhumiyas, Gaitas of the project-affected area, Environment Department officials and Lloyds Managing Director B. Prabhakaran were also present.
The Surjagad Iron Project in Etapalli taluka has provided work to local citizens. Due to this, the youth and women of this area are becoming economically empowered. Employment generation has been accelerated in this area through Lloyds Metals Company and as many as 6,000 youth and women will be recruited in this place, it was informed.
The public representatives demanded that priority be given to local youth of Aheri assembly constituency in this company. Lloyds has built a well-equipped hospital in Hedri and provided medical facilities to the patients of the remote Etapalli taluka. There was a demand to start a similar hospital in Alapalli or Aheri with expert doctors.
Meanwhile, the citizens of the area expressed their hope that this project will maintain environmental balance while demanding development, health, education and employment in the area. The citizens demanded that the company should pay attention to creating facilities such as education, health, drinking water, roads, etc. so that the environment and culture of the area will not be affected in any way. The public hearing was attended by a majority of citizens, youth, women and girls of Etapalli taluka.
This was the second public hearing regarding the expansion project of Lloyds Metals Company. Earlier, on January 23 last, the public hearing for the expansion of the iron ore project at Konsari was held. In that public hearing, the villages unanimously welcomed the expansion of Lloyds’ iron ore project and demanded that the company provide important facilities like employment, health, and education to the locals.The elected public representatives and other dignitaries also welcomed the project.
Lloyd Metals and Energy Ltd., Surjagad had submitted an application to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, Chandrapur for holding a public hearing for the expansion of the iron ore production area with a crushing and screening plant on the Surjagad iron ore mine lease area with a capacity of 10 to 26 million tonnes per annum, 45 million tonnes per annum (BHQ plant), 3 × 15 (45) million tonnes per annum of low grade iron ore, quartzite (BHQ), 5 million tonnes per annum of solid waste in its operating mine area of 348.09 hectares.
The villages of Etapalli taluka including Nagulwadi, Mohorli, Karampalli, Ekra Khurd, Zarewada, Petha, Markal, Reknar, Aldandi, Parasalgondi, Pursalgondi, Hedri, Bande, Munger, Godel, Italnar, Surjagad, Nender, Malampad will come under the influence of this project. The Government of India has approved the proposed project.
