NEW DELHI, May 4 � Environmental clearance (EC) is likely to pave the way for revival of the defunct Ashok Paper Mill. An application to the effect submitted by Assam Government is pending with the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF).
Government of Assam has submitted the draft terms of reference along with Techno-economic Feasibility Report (TEFR) and Form-1 for EC to MoEF in February for carrying out Rapid Environment Impact Assessment Study (REIA), said Minister of State for Heavy Industries, Arun Yadav in reply to a Rajya Sabha question by Kumar Deepak Das.
Acceptance of terms of reference is likely to be considered in the next expert appraisal committee, according to chronological order.
Earlier, clearing the fate of the Paper Mill, the Minister confirmed that Sandwell has submitted the final Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been submitted in the first week of March to Hindustan Paper Corporation (HPC). The DPR was subsequently submitted to Government of Assam on March 31 for scrutiny and acceptance. According to the TEFR and draft DPR, the expected time for completion of the entire project has been estimated to be 30 months.
In the recently held tripartite review meeting of the Assam Accord, the fate of Ashok Paper Mill had also figured, with the Centre disclosing that the old mill may be scrapped and a new project taken up in its place. All Assam Students Union urged Government of India to hand over the project to HPC.
It was also decided that Government of Assam would prepare an inventory of availability of bamboo in the State and submit its report within three months. The report is yet to be submitted. Availability of bamboo in adequate quantities would be the mainstay of any revival efforts, the Minister said.
Production operation of Ashok Paper Mill is currently under suspension and all efforts to revive the Mill have come to a naught, so far.
