OMC seeks AG's opinion on Niyamgiri

The Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) has sought legal opinion of the Advocate General of the state on the issue of rejection of Stage-II forest clearance by the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) on proposed bauxite mining by Vedanta Aluminium Ltd (VAL) at Niyamgiri hills.

"OMC has sought legal opinion of the Advocate General of the state on the cancellation of Stage-II forest clearance by MoEF on bauxite mining at Niyamgiri hills. The corporation has questioned as to how the ministry could reject the Stage-II forest clearance when the Supreme Court of India has already given its nod to the bauxite mining project”, Manoj Ahuja, secretary (steel and mines) and chairman of OMC told reporters here.

Asked if OMC would move the Supreme Court on the issue, he said, “As of now, we have sought legal opinion and a decision can be taken only after the Advocate General gives his views.”

On the allotment of alternative bauxite mines to VAL, he stated, “VAL had applied for seven alternative mines and the matter is under consideration. We will abide by the laws and procedures and also take into account the interests of the affected people while deciding on the issue of alloting alternative bauxite mines to the company.”It may be noted that on August 24 this year, the MoEF had rejected the Stage-II forest clearance based 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 in the area.

The mining operations would involve stripping off more than seven square kms of the Niyamgiri hill top, which would drastically alter the region's water supply, severely affecting both ecological systems and human communities the MoEF said in its order.

Besides, the ministry held that mining would lead to loss of forest cover, thereby affecting the two tribal groups- Dongaria and Kutia Kondh, heavily dependent on forest produce for their livelihood.