Procedural delays hamper timely implementation of mega projects

By Sanjeev Shekhar
Ranchi-

Despite the centre’s prior approval to grant mining lease (ML) or prospecting lease (PL) to nearly two dozen companies, the ground level mining activities could not kick off in the state. Thanks to the procedural delays of the various concerned departments owing to which the companies here remains a confounded lot.

Statistics available with the department of mines shows that as many as 18 companies have been granted ML while four companies have got PL. However, the companies having the centre’s nod are unable to carry out the mining work at the respective sites in the absence of statutory clearances required from the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), environment and forest, state pollution board clearance so on and so forth. Once armed with these clearances, the companies would be entitled for the lease to carry out their assigned tasks at the sites.

Interestingly, there are scores of companies that have been granted centre’s prior approval for more that two to four years back but the statutory clearances are proving the spoilsport at the ground level. “We are unable to begin work as clearances from the department concerned are awaited,” was the common refrain of the industrial representatives here.

The main functionary of the Electrosteel Company, Nirmal Kataraka, pointed out that the centre’s approval does not entitle them to begin work at the site instantly. The company has been granted centre’s approval for Kodlibad mines area in West Singhbhum for 192.30 hectares. The approval came on January 25, 2006. The state has asked the company to get the clearances from the related departments following which lease would be eventually granted for carrying out the mining work.

“It takes time to seek clearances from departments particularly environment, forest and pollution. Lots of departments are involved and all have their procedures that cannot be overlooked. Thus it takes time to begin work at the site,” Nirmal said.

Endorsing the viewpoint, the officials of the Sunflag firmly held that such clearances are taking nearly 3 to 5 years time. Consequently, the work at the ground level related to mining cannot be kicked off. “In some cases, the forest clearances are awaited for decades together, said the Sunflag official, Jagannathan Somu. Sunflag has been allotted 120 hectares at Kodlibad mines in the West Singhbum in 2006.

The official spokesperson of the Anandita Traders informed that the company has been allotted iron ore last year at Param-Baljori covering an area of 47.15 hectares. He said that normally the statutory clearances takes time of 20-24 months. “We have to give the mine plan, seek clearances from the various ministries at the centre as well as at the state level. Such process needs time,” the official said explaining that such things are normal in the day-to-day functioning.

Sanjeev Shekhar,

Media Consultant/Journalist/PR

Jharkhand Academic Council-constructed without any government grant

Jharkhand Academic Council-imposing structure

A classic example of wealth creation without any government grant or help from the education department of Jharkhand
By Sanjeev Shekhar

With the inaguration of the new building of Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) at Namkom in Ranchi, the Council has created a history of sorts of becoming the lone education intitution to have its building constructed with its own internal resources.

The new building of the Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) has been inaugurated by the Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha, Alamgir Alam, while the HRD Minister, Bandhu Tirkey, was the chief guest on the occasion.

The speaker, Alamgir Alam, appreciated the work of the JAC for conducting the examinations of the Matriculation, Intermediate, Netarhat etc on time and subsequent publication of results. He said the newly constructed building has marked the beginning of new dawn in the state that has not taken help from the government education department nor it has got any government grant to construct the building with the expenditure of Rs.15 crore.

The Speaker said he would like that the council should set new goals for itself and should introduce such courses so that the students from here do not go out of the state for pursuing their career. He also lauded the efforts of the architect and people associated with the construction of the building for accomplishing the task on time. The building spread in the area of 4.5 acres of land was constructed in the span of two and a half years following the allotment of land by the state government in Namkom.

“The JAC being the autonomous body conducts 10 examinations in the state including that of Madarsa and Sanskrit Board mobilized its resources by means of examination fees and other similar means and constructed its own building,” said the official of the council on the occasion.

The Human Resources Minister, Bandhu Tirkey, spelled out various plans of the education department and said that the building was completed in the record time. “We will be constructing the school in the line of Netarhat at Bero and upgrade the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya at Ranchi by providing additional grant to them for the construction of the building,” he said.

The Health Minister, Bhanu Pratap Sahi, was full of praises for the HRD minister and urged the Speaker Alam to bestow the best minister award on Bandhu Tirkey for his commendable work in the field of education. However, the speaker did not elaborate on it during his speech.

Several other dignitaries including the legislators, Annapurna Devi, former MP, Ramtahal Choudhary, Sawna Lakra, Karia Munda and others were present on the occasion. The foundation of the building was laid by the BJP led Arjun Munda government in 2005, but the actual work started in the year 2006.

The Chairman of the Council, Dr. Shaligram Yadav, gave the actual break-up of the construction and said that the Council invested Rs1366 per square feet on the construction, furnishing and preparing the audio-visual system in the building. On the construction side, the JAC invested Rs 986 per square feet, which is less than the CPWD rate. Others present on the occasion included the vice-Chairman of the JAC, Abul Subbani, Secretary, P. Tirkey, local leaders and schoolchildren.

Sanjeev Shekhar

Journalist/Media Consultant/PR