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The environment ministry has accorded initial forest clearance to the
Brutanga irrigation project in Orissa, clearing the way for diversion of
over 1,527 hectares of forest land across a tributary of Mahanadi river.
The project in Nayagarh district was given Stage I forest clearance by the
forest advisory committee (FAC) at its meeting last month after the state
government presented a detailed plan for rehabilitating people who would be
displaced by it. The project involves construction of an earthen dam, 552
metres long, which will submerge 2110 hectares of land, of which 1009.44
hectares is forest land, the statement said.
The environment ministry based on the recommendation of the FAC is of the
view that this project would benefit thousands of farmers in the state and
has accorded the Stage I clearance to the project. The Orissa government
will now have to submit a compliance report to the environment ministry for
a formal clearance.
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