Env Ministry forms new panel on Niyamgiri Vedanta mining

PTInews.com, June 29, 2010
New Delhi, June 29 (PTI) The Environment Ministry has formed a new panel to look into issues related to alleged violation of forest rights of tribals in Orissa's Niyamgiri, where it has held up clearance to a bauxite mining project of Vedanta Resources.


The Ministry issued a notification regarding setting up of a four-member panel headed by N C Saxena from National Advisory Council (NAC). S Parasuraman from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Promode Kant and Amita Baviskar -- both from Institute of Economic Growth -- are the other members.

The move has come against the backdrop of reports that the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has asked the Environment Ministry to "clear the project (bauxite mining) after a thorough scrutiny and due consideration of all aspects.