SC defers hearing on Niyamgiri case

The Supreme Court on Thursday deferred the hearing on the petition challenging cancellation of forest clearance of Niyamgiri bauxite mine belonging to Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) to January 11 next year.

“The court heard submission of all the parties and the hearing has been adjourned to January 11, 2013,” said Saswat Mishra, Chairman cum Managing Director, OMC.

Ajit Jadav, the counselor of Vedanta Aluminium, which is a intervener in the case, said, the court has asked for some more details from both the Union government and the state government on compliance of Forest Right Act (FRA) at the mining site.

The Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) had withdrawn the forest clearance for Niyamgirgir mines following protracted protests by local tribals and green activists over alleged FRA violation.

This mine is critical for the Lanjigarh alumina refinery of Vedanta Aluminium Ltd (VAL), which had entered into a joint venture agreement with OMC for sourcing of bauxite for the project.

The next hearing date could be the concluding date of hearing of the case, said sources.

VAL has already closed down its one million tonne a year alumina refinery at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district saying that the factory will remain shut until sufficient bauxite is available to run the unit.