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State opposes panel report on Vedanta

BHUBANESWAR: A day after the four-member panel headed by former Planning Commissioner Member N.C. Saxena submitted its report to the Union Government stating that Vedanta's plans to mine Niyamgiri hills should not be given clearance, the Orissa government on Tuesday wrote to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests opposing the findings of the Committee.

Letter

In a letter to the Secretary of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, State Forest and Environment Secretary Upendra Nath Behera said that all the work on the project was being done as per the orders of the Supreme Court.

The issues raised by the Saxena Committee had been raised before the Supreme Court during the hearing of public interest petitions that had been disposed off in 2007, Mr. Behera said.

Denying the alleged violation of environment and forest laws by the company as pointed out by the Saxena Committee in its report, Mr. Behera urged the Union Ministry to allow the State Government explain its stand before a final decision was taken on the proposed mining in Niyamgiri hills.

Criticism

Meanwhile, criticism was growing against Naveen Patnaik Government in the State for allegedly showing “undue favours” to Vedanta Aluminium Limited to violate the existing laws.

The Opposition has also criticised the State government for recently allowing Vedanta's proposal to enhance the capacity of its aluminium refinery at Lanjigarh near Niyamgiri hills from one million tonne to six million tonnes.

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