SC admits OMC petition on Niyamgiri mines

The Supreme Court today admitted the Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC), challenging the order of the Union ministry of environment & forests (MoEF) on cancellation of Stage-II forest clearance for bauxite mining at Niyamgiri hills in south Orissa's Kalahandi district.

The apex court, however, directed OMC to furnish grounds of opposing the MoEF order. On March 8, OMC had challenged the decision of MoEF in the apex court.

It may be noted that Niyamgiri mines are crucial for Vedanta’s alumina refinery at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district. Vedanta had entered into a joint venture pact with OMC for raising and use of bauxite from Niyamgiri mines for its refinery project. On 24 August last year, the MoEF had rejected the Stage-II forest clearance for bauxite mining at Niyamgiri hills on the recommendations of the four-member Saxena committee. The ministry was of the view that mining at Niyamgiri hills would severely impact the wildlife and tribals in the area.