The Expert Appraisal Committee of the Ministry of Environment has recommended Environmental Clearance (EC) to Indian Oil Corporation’s (IOCL) LPG storage and bottling plant in Tirunelveli district, despite the site being just one km away from the Gangaikondan Spotted Deer Sanctuary.
The EC is subject to the company obtaining the clearance from the National Board of Wildlife. And the company has been asked to deposit ₹1.60 crore with the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.
In 2016, the National Green Tribunal had ruled that the company could start operations only after obtaining the EC and nod from the National Board of Wildlife.
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Operations commence
The plant has been set up at SIPCOT in Gangaikondan on 42 acres of land given to it on a 99 year lease at a cost of ₹78.58 crores. It had commenced operations without getting the EC violating the norms. During discussions, the EAC raised a number of issues to the project proponent and had sought detailed replies on them.
The IOCL, through its consultant M/s. ABC Techno Labs India Pvt. Ltd, gave a detailed presentation on the project.
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Following this, the Committee recommended the proposal for grant of EC and stipulated conditions. The deposit of ₹1.60 crore with the TNPCB was for a remediation plan and natural and community resource augmentation plan to be spent within a period of three years.
Other conditions include monitoring of air quality, conducting a vehicle check up camp annually, restoration of abandoned wells, construction of two rain water storage tanks, community water management, planting more trees in the vicinity of the project area, construction of toilets in nearby villages under the Swach Bharat plan, and setting up of water storage pond in the nearest reserve forest.