Key Points
The case pertains to an alleged violation of environmental clearances issued to Hindalco for mining coal in Odisha between 2000 and 2013, with the company mining coal more than the permitted capacity...
The CBI has also charged Dr T. Chandini, then a director in the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), for allegedly misusing her position to provide undue benefits to Hindalco, despite a prohibition imposed by the ministry in critically polluted areas at the time..
According to the CBI, the MoEF had issued a circularwhichmandated that when considering a proposal for clearance for an expansion project,it would takethe compliance status of the conditions stipulated in the earlier clearances into consideration.In this regard, CBI alleged, Hindalcowas foundto have violated the clearances granted to it in 2001 and 2009, producing coal in quantities in excess of what it had received the clearances for...
Under its prohibition, MoEF issued administrative directions instructing the return of all projects located in critically polluted areas that were in thepipeline,or on which a final decision had not yet been taken.In the Hindalco case, however, the guidelines were not followed, the CBI said.. Dr T. Chandini was obligated to return the proposal of Hindalco but she dishonestly and fraudulently did not adhere to the instructions of the MoEF and instead by misusing her official position communicated to Hindalco that their proposal for grant of clearance would be considered in the next meeting, the FIR said...
Despite the prohibition imposed on the consideration of projects for grant of Environment clearances, Chandini continued with the process of consideration of Hindalcos application and sent several letters notifying them about the agenda, dates of committee meetings and issued instructions in connection with the procession, the FIR said.. (Edited by Sanya Mathur)..
