Vedanta says MOEF contradicting itself on clearance
17 Sep 2010
A fortnight after it was issued a show-cause notice asking why its existing 1- million tonne alumina refinery at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district in Orissa should not be closed down, Vendanta Alumiium Limited (VAL) today said the ministry was contradicting its own order.
After denial of the stage II forest clearance for mining of bauxite on Niyamgiri Hill hilltop last month, the ministry on 21 August served two separate show-cause notices on the company.
The notices were served to Vedanta's director(business development) and chief operationg officer of Lanjigarh refinery.
The notices inquired why environmental clearance to the 1 MTPA refinery issued in 2004 should not be revoked under Section 5 of Environment Protection Act, 1986.
The company has been asked why orders for closure of the 1 MTPA refinery should not be issued.
According to the notice, the environmental clearance accorded to the company for putting up the refinery was legally invalid as it has used 26,123 hectares of village forest land within the refinery boundary.