Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh today said that Odisha government should not use environmental clearances as a license for forcible acquisition of land. Talking to reporters in New Delhi today Mr. Ramesh said that the steel project was given environmental clearance by the ministry after a great deal of thought and a careful balancing of various factors. He also said that the state government will not take any precipitate action and land will be aquired only through peaceful procedures. However he clarified that environment clearances should not be used to fight other battles on issues like land acquisition, compensation and livelihoods.