Orissa to make last ditch effort for Vedanta project

Even as the Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh is slated to announce his decision tomorrow on the Vedanta's proposed bauxite mining at Niyamgiri hills in Orissa's Kalahandi district, the Orissa government will make a last ditch attempt to present its side of the story on the project

U N Behera, principal secretary (environment and forest), Orissa government, is scheduled to call on Ramesh tomorrow to present the state government's version on Vedanta's proposed bauxite mining project.

The Centre's invitation to the state government to present is side of the story on Vedanta's bauxite mining project follows today's meeting of the Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The Prime Minister has assured the Orissa Chief Minister of pushing ahead the Posco project while allaying fears of inundation of tribal villages in the state due to the Polavaram project.

“The Posco project has received the Stage-II clearance of the Ministry of Environment and Forests after thorough scrutiny by the Supreme Court. The requirements of the Forest Rights Act have also been fully met. If the forest clearance is withheld or withdrawn at this stage, it will raise serious questions about the credibility of Government of India. The people residing in the area have been promised a very handsome compensation package and they have gladly accepted it . Any disturbance to the project at this stage would seriously impact its progress”, Patnaik explained to the prime Minister.Patnaik also called on Jairam Ramesh and held discussions on the Posco and Vedanta projects.

Patnaik stated that Orissa was given an opportunity to present its side of the story on the proposed bauxite mining by Vedanta at Niyamgiri hills, during the discussions.

On the Posco project, the Union Minister promised to send a committee headed by Meena Gupta to Orissa shortly and take all necessary steps for the project soon.

The issue of proposed bauxite mining by Vedanta also figured prominently during the negotiations.

Patnaik pointed out to the Union Minister that the various issues raised by the Saxena Committee had already been thoroughly scrutinized by the Supreme Court and the state government has agreed to all the conditions imposed by Supreme Court before it recommended forest clearance to the Union ministry of environment and forest (MoEF).

On his part, Ramesh stated promised the Chief Minister that a rational view will be taken after hearing the views of the state government.

Patnaik also impressed upon the minister to accord the necessary clearance to the Vedanta University project. Ramesh has agreed to send a representative of his ministry to Orissa to examine the various issues relating to the university project and expedite the necessary clearances.

The state Chief Minister's meeting with the Prime Minister and the environment minister assumes significance in the aftermath of the recommendations of the four-member Saxena committee on Posco's mega steel project and extraction of bauxite by Vedanta Aluminium at Niyamgiri hills in Kalahandi district.

In line with the recommendations of the Saxena committee, the MoEF had directed the Orissa government to stop all work on the Posco project, including land acquisition.