CPI welcomes Ramesh's decision to put Posco clearance on hold

The CPI today welcomed environment minister Jairam Ramesh's decision to put the forest clearance for the Rs54,000 crore Posco steel project in Orissa on hold and suggested that he should withdraw the clearance given to it.Party national secretary D Raja said Ramesh's decision is "positive" in the given atmosphere and wanted to know whether he was articulating his personal views or that of the UPA government."It is a welcome and a positive move in the given situation. The Minister has put on hold the forest clearance given to the Posco project," he said, adding the environment ministry has specifically raised questions whether the Forest Rights Act has been implemented in the project.However, Raja said there is a doubt whether the environment ministry intends to fully comply with the law or not as "the Ministry's own enquiry established that the Act was not implemented."Raja, who has written several letters to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the Posco project, suggested that Ramesh withdraw the clearance given to the project."The environment ministry should abide by the law and decide on the fate of the project soon. How long will the people of the area protest?" he asked.