A green panel EAC has rejected Tata Sponge Iron’s plea to exempt it from public hearing for setting up of a 12.5 mw thermal power plant in Odisha, and suggested that the Union Environment Ministry may take a call on the issue based on the government policy. Public hearings are mandated as part of the environmental clearance process for certain projects under the Environment (Protection) Act. They are the only formal means of consultation for both indigenous and non-indigenous project- affected communities. “Regarding the request of project proponent (Tata Sponge Iron) for exemption of public hearing, the Committee recommended that the Ministry may take a decision on exemption of public hearing based on government policy,” according to the minutes of the meeting of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) held last month.