Tathya.in, Bhubaneswar:2/November/2010
Mukesh Kumar has informed the Odisha Pollution Control Board (OPCB) that Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL) is already implementing a Three Year Action Plan of Environment Protection.
Dr.Kumar, President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) in a letter to Sidhanta Das, Secretary OPCB pointed out that the Aluminium Major has already installed Online Stack Monitoring System in the plant during last 3 years.
Secondly VAL has already Piezometer around the red mud and ash ponds.
Thirdly VAL has created 108 hectares of Green Cover out of 128 hectares and rest will be naturally covered during next 2 years, reveals the Report.
“We have received the Report given by the Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL), Lanjigarh, said Sidhanta Das, Secretary OPCB.
Mr.Das said VAL authorities have also deposited Rs.10 crore Bank Guarantee drawn with the HDFC Bank as a guarantee, which the company will keep it deposited for next three years.
OPCB will monitor the implementation of the Action Plan and if the company fails to do so, they will be forced to spend money for environment protection activities in the area, said Mr.Das.
VAL has deposited its Action Plan on 1 November along with the HDFC Bank Guarantee with the OPCB.
Ministry of Forest & Environment (MOEF), while allowing VAL with its’ 1 million ton refinery at Lanjigarh asked the Aluminium Major to present its Action Plan and Bank Guarantee.
The MOEF has, however, disallowed the VAL to go ahead with its expansion programme to ramp up the capacity of its refinery capacity to 6 million tonnes from the present 1 million tonne and the captive power plant capacity to 300 MW from the present 75 MW.
VAL authorities have already written to the MOEF on 26 October, pointing these actions being taken by them.
“As we are taking all these actions on pollution control and environment protection front, where is our fault lies”, asks a senior officer of VAL.
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