State PCS - Maharashtra (MPSC)

• 28 May 2025

Iron Ore Processing Plant in Gadchiroli

Why in News? 

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has granted in-principle forest clearance to Lloyd Metals and Energy Limited for setting up an iron ore beneficiation plant in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district.

Key Points 

Iron Ore Beneficiation Plant  

• Location and Forest Land Diversion: 
  • The plant is to be set up in Gadchiroli, a region affected by Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) for decades. 
  • The approval permits the diversion of 937 hectares of forest land and the felling of 1.23 lakh trees. 
    • The MoEFCC’s Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) has recommended compensatory afforestation in Chiplun, Ratnagiri district on Maharashtra’s coast. 
• Wildlife Clearance: 
  • The plant’s area partly overlaps with a critical tiger corridor between Tadoba and Indravati Tiger Reserves, necessitating wildlife clearance from the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL). 
• Significance: 
  • Industrial Development: The plant is designed to process raw iron ore (hematite quartzite), improving ore quality and supporting steel and allied industries. 
  • Employment and Economic Growth: It is expected to generate employment opportunities and promote regional economic growth, aligning with Maharashtra’s push to expand mining and industrial activity in Gadchiroli. 
• Challenges and Concerns: 
  • Impact on Tribal Communities: Tribal communities have raised concerns about displacement and rights violations, underscoring the need for strict Forest Rights Act (FRA) compliance and genuine tribal participation. 
  • Environmental Risks: Extensive tree felling near tiger corridors poses serious biodiversity risks, making strict monitoring and mitigation measures crucial. 
    • While compensatory afforestation is proposed in Chiplun, Ratnagiri district to offset deforestation, concerns persist regarding the effectiveness of such measures.

Indravati National Park  

• About:   
  • It is situated in the Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh.  
  • It was established in 1981 and declared a tiger reserve in 1983 under India’s Project Tiger.  
  • It is named after the Indravati River, which flows from east to west and forms the reserve's northern boundary with Maharashtra.  
• Vegetation:  
  • Comprises three major forest types:  
    • Moist Mixed Deciduous Forest with Teak.  
    • Moist Mixed Deciduous Forest without Teak.  
    • Southern Dry Mixed Deciduous Forest.  
• Flora:  
  • Common tree species include teak, achar, karra, kullu, shisham, semal, haldu, arjun, bel, and jamun.  
• Fauna:  
  • Hosts one of the last populations of rare wild buffalo.  
  • Other species include Nilgai, Black Buck, Sambar, Gaur, Tiger, Leopard, Chital, Sloth Bears, and more.

Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve 

• Location: It is situated in Maharashtra and is the oldest and largest national park in the state.  
  • Tadoba/Taru is the local deity revered by the tribal people in the area.  
  • Andhari is derived from the Andhari river which flows through the reserve.  
• Geography: It contains two primary lakes, Tadoba Lake and Kolsa Lake, along with the Tadoba River.   
• Biodiversity:   
  • Flora: Teak, semal, tendu, beheda, karaya gum, mahua madhuca, arjun, bamboo etc.  
  • Fauna: Tigers, Indian leopards, sloth bears, gaurs, nilgai, dholes, small Indian civets, sambars, spotted deer, barking deer, and chital.