Centre rejects Vedanta plea for mining in Niyamgiri

Sambad English Bureau Published On : Jan 11, 2014 at 12:11 PM Updated On : Jan 11, 2014 at 12:16 PM

OST Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Jan 11:

The Vedanta Alumina Ltd (VAL) has received a major jolt as the Centre has finally rejected its plea for mining in Niyamgiri in Kalahandi district, official sources said.

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According to sources, the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) is said to have rejected the company’s proposal following the decision taken by the gram sabhas in which the tribals of 12 villages in Kalahandi and Rayagada districts had unanimously rejected the proposed mining.

It may be mentioned that the Supreme Court had asked the Odisha government to seek the opinion of the tribals living in and around Niyamgiri area on the issue of bauxite mining in the area.

Acting on the order of the apex court, the state government had conducted 12 gram sabhas in which the tribals had vehemently opposed mining in Niyamgiri.