The Vedanta mining project in Orissa has been struck down by the government. This after a committee said the company had violated forest and environment laws. Forest clearance for the project in the Niyamgiri Hills has been cancelled and there shall be penal action against Vedanta for violating laws. A notice has also been issued to the company for its alumina refinery in Lanjigarh, for increasing "1 mn tonne capacity...to 6 mn tonnes illegally."Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said, "There has been a very serious violation of Environment Protection Act, Forest Conservation Act and the Forest Rights Act...there have been no emotions and no politics and no prejudice involved in this report."This area in Western Orissa's Kalahandi district is home to the Dongria Kondh, a primitive tribal community, that has been objecting to Vedanta's plans to set up a bauxite mining project worth Rs. 5000 crores. Vedanta is owned by Anil Agarwal.
Last week, the NC Saxena Committee set up by the government had said that the project should not be allowed. The committee, headed by NC Saxena, said that the Vedanta project endangers nearly 7500 square km of forest land, and that it violates tribal forest rights.The NC Saxena Committee was critical of the Orissa government's decision to clear the project; its report stated that government officials colluded with Vedanta to allow blatant and widespread violations of forest and environmental laws.Vedanta, the Saxena Committee states, has illegally occupied at least 26 hectares of village forest land within its refinery, set up at the base of the Niyamgiri mountain.Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik met with the Prime Minister on Monday to discuss the controversial deal. The project was approved by the Supreme Court in August 2008, but the court left the final decision up to the government. Some believe that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi may be influencing government policy on this project - he's due to visit the area on August 26. In March 2008, he visited the area and promised his support to the Dongria Kondh. Vedanta has offered in its defense the promise that it plans to mine only 3.5 square kmeters of the 250-km Niyamgiri Range. The company also says that there is considerable local support for the project: 5000 locals helped to build its alumina refinery. In Vedanta's estimate, its mine will bring Rs. 1,000 crores to the region every year, and will provide jobs for 600,000 locals.
