New Delhi: In a fresh jolt to mining
multinational Vedanta Resources, a Union Environment Ministry
team has found violations of green norms at its bauxite
project at Niyamgiri hills in Kalahandi district of Orissa.
The three-member team which was asked to verify fresh
allegations of violations of the terms of the 'in-principle'
approval submitted its report today to Environment Minister
Jairam Ramesh.
"I would not subscribe to the high-profile campaign in
the case by various groups. But I am looking at the case on
merit basis.
But I can say that they have violated Forest Rights
Act, without taking consideration of the tribal rights.
Another area where my ministry had problem was that it
had started construction work in land that belonged to the
revenue department, though the project had not received
clearance," said Ramesh on the sidelines of a function here.
The minister added that he had been receiving a large
number of representations with regard to bauxite mining by
Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) through Vedanta.
After site inspection, the team while giving various
instances of violation said "this is a case of violation of
the F(C) Act and also of the environment guidelines."
Vedanta Resources, part of the USD 6.6 billion metals
and mining giant, Vedanta, is implementing various mining
projects in Orissa and Chhattisgarh.
PTI
First Published: Friday, March 12, 2010, 23:52