Gadchiroli Jan. 23 (District Correspondent) The environmental public hearing for the expansion of Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd.’s iron ore project at Konsari, which marks the industrial development of Gadchiroli district, which is devoid of industry and is plagued by unemployment, was held in a peaceful atmosphere this morning at the project site of Konsari.
Notably, the citizens of the villages under the expansion unanimously welcomed the expansion of Lloyds’ iron ore project. However, they demanded that the company provide important facilities like employment, health and education to the locals.
This public hearing was organized by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). Lloyds Company Managing Director B. Prabhakaran, District Collector Avishyant Panda, Padma Shri Dr. Parashuram Khune, former minister andMLA of Aheri Dharmarao Baba Atram, Gadchiroli MLA Dr. Milind Narote, former MP Ashok Nete, former MLA Dr. Devrao Holi, MPCB Chandrapur Regional Officer Tanaji Yadav, Deputy Regional Officer Umashankar Bhadule and many other were present.
This public hearing was held to expand the steel plant at Konsari to 2 by 4.5 million tons per annum (grinding unit), 10 million tons per annum thickening filtration unit and 2 by 4 million tons per annum iron ore pellet plant, an integrated steel plant (capacity of 4.5 million tons per annum).
Citizens of Konsari and surrounding villages participated in this hearing and expressed their views, saying that the development in the Maoist-affected district has started due to the company. They appreciated the facility of sewage management along with the fleet of electric vehicles started by the company to prevent pollution from increasing as the industry expands.
However, they expressed their expectation that special care should be taken to ensure that the industry does not cause any pollution and that the general public is not inconvenienced. Since this project is based on iron ore extracted from the Surjagad mine in the district, only locals should be employed here, they demanded. The villages affected by the project should be developed as model villages with all facilities, they should be provided with all the facilities, a multi-specialty hospital should be constructed, a school with good quality education with CBSC curriculum should be built, all necessary environmental measures should be taken and the company should give company shares along with financial compensation to the farmers who have given their land for the project, they further demanded.
Mr. Nete said that Lloyds has done the work of erasing the identity of Gadchiroli as a backward district. Gadchiroli district will now become a new model of development and will be known as “Steel City” in the future.
MLA Dr. Milind Narote also expressed his hope that the company will solve the unemployment problem in the district. He also said that the unemployed youth of the district should be provided employment. If anyone is unskilled, there is a need to provide them skill training.
Mr. Atram said that Lloyds Company has brought prosperity to the district and steel production here will create an image of the country as a steel country in the world. The Sarpanchas and members of the area and thousands of villagers were present at this public hearing.
Meanwhile, Gadchiroli Chimur MP Dr. Namdeo Kirsan visited the public hearing and inspected the project and appreciated the efforts being made by the company for the development of Gadchiroli district.
