CBI books Jayanthi Natarajan, carries out searches -Devesh K Pandey

-The Hindu

The case pertains to clearance given for diversion of forest land at Saranda Forest in Jharkhand’s Singhbhum District to a mining company in violation of Forest (Conservation) Act in 2012.

The Central Bureau of Investigation on September 9 conducted searches at the Chennai premises of former Union Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan in connection with alleged irregularities in the approval to a proposal for leasing of 56 hectare forest land to a private firm for mining of iron and manganese ores in Jharkhand’s Singhbhum district.

The agency has registered a case against Ms. Natarajan and others under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The case is based on the findings of a preliminary enquiry into the allegations that during 2005, unknown officials of the Jharkhand government had recommended the proposal by Electrosteel Casting Limited for leasing of 192.5 hectare land at Saranda Forest in Singhbhum.

The proposal, then forwarded to the Environment Ministry, was approved in February 2012, allegedly in violation of the existing mining laws, environment laws and the directions of the Supreme Court, alleges the FIR. It also names Umang Kejriwal, the then managing director of Odisha-based Electrosteel Casting and the company itself, for involvement in the alleged conspiracy.

The FIR notes that a memorandum of understanding was signed by the company and the then Jharkhand government in May 2004 for setting up of a plant for production of one million ton per annum of steel in the State. The agreement was modified in Jaunary 2007, changing the production capacity to three million ton per annum.

On this proposal, the State government requested the Union Ministry of Mines for a prior approval under the Mines and Minerals (Developmental & Regulation) Act, for grant of lease of 192.5 hectare land in Electrosteel Casting’s favour. The Ministry responded with the condition for ensuring compliance with environmental laws.

In April 2008, the company again proposed diversion of 55.79 hectare of the land. It was rejected by the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) as the proposed mining area was part of the core zone of Singhbhum Elephant Reserve and was critical to wildlife conservation.

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