Orissa alumina refinery project is ecologically sustainable: Vedanta

mydigitalfc.com, March 15, 2010
By Ranjit Bhushan
Vedanta Alumina Refinery, in the eye of the storm for pursuing a Rs 4000 crore aluminium project in Orissa, has defended its enviornmental record saying that their refinery at Lanjigarh “has been built with the modern technology and the first alumina refinery in the country and among few in the world having successfully implemented the zero discharge system.”


The controversy over Vedanta appears to have got a further filip with environment minister Jairam Ramesh telling reporters here last week that “follow-up action” with the Orissa government would be taken after a ministry panel sent to the region submitted three reports saying Vedanta started work on its mining project before receiving final clearance. Vedanta has denied any wrongdoing.

"When there is a project in forest areas and around forest areas, ministry of environment guidelines are that you should not begin construction in the non-forest areas without getting all clearances in the forest area. And there is evidence that Vedanta has violated these guidelines,"Ramesh said.

In a statement issued to Financial Chronicle, Vedanta said “The environmental measures adopted in the plant with respect to air and water pollution is among the best and its performance is being regularly monitored by state pollution control board (SPCB). The board has renewed its consent to operate for two years instead of the normal one year valid upto March 2011.”

At the centre of the controversy is an agreement between the Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) and Vedanta Alumina for bauxite mining in Kalahandi district. Vedanta Alumina will hold a 74 per cent stake, while 26 per cent will be held by the OMC. NGOs like Action Aid have accused the company of causing largescale envirnonmental damages and human right excesses against tribals who constitute the majority in the districts where the project is coming up.

The allegation made by Action Aid has already been checked by recognised institutions like Indian Institute of Science, National Geophysical Research Institute, IIT Kharagpur who find no substance in to it.''

Meanwhile, Coal India has raised objections to Vedanta’s proposed plant in West Bengal, saying that it was a coal-bearing region.