NEW DELHI (Commodity Online): Vedanta Aluminium, which has set up a greenfield alumina refinery in Orissa, is under the scanner of the ministry of environment & forest following complaints of environment law violations.

A central team will visit the site to verify allegations of violations of the terms of the 'in-principle' approval under Forest Conservation Act, 1980 by the project proponent, said Jairam Ramesh, union minister for environment and forest.

In-principle approval given to the project on December 11, 2008 under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 could be converted to a final approval, only after the fulfillment of stipulations contained in it were met, Ramesh said. After taking charge of the environment ministry, Ramesh has decided to do away with the concept of in-principle approval, where work on the project starts, pending environmental clearance.

Many civil society organisations alleged that Vedanta on behalf of Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) had already started construction activities without receiving the final nod. The project application from Vedanta Aluminium Ltd (VAL), which is the subsidiary of Vedanta Resources Plc, was received by the environment ministry on February 26, 2005.

Post your comment  (0)

Connect:

Post to Twitter

Post to Facebook