Bhubaneswar: The ministry of environment and forests （MoEF） will conduct hearing on the issues related to the Vedanta Resources’ alumina plant in Orissa on Thursday.
“The MoEF hearing will be held on September 30,” senior vice-president of Vedanta’s projects in Orissa AK Samal told FE.
Vedanta Aluminium — a subsidiary of the London Stock Exchange-listed company Vedanta Resources Plc — filed its replies to the showcause notices served by MoEF on September 15. On August 31, the MoEF slapped two showcause notices as to why the company’s one million tonne per annum refinery at Lanjigarh will not be closed down and the expansion project be stopped.
Vedanta, in its reply, has asserted that there has been no violation of the forest and environment laws and rules.
Samal, on Tuesday, met Orissa chief secretary BK Patnaik and appraised him about the position made by Vedanta’s various projects in Orissa.
The senior vice-president said 2,400-mw Independent Power Plant （IPP） at Jharsuguda is progressing fast. While the first unit has been back into operation, the second unit will be synchronised by December this year. The other two remaining units would come up with a time gap of three months thereafter, he added. According to him, the first unit, which had to be shut down due to problem in the ESP, is now showing 100% efficiency in controlling the emissions.
Referring to the Vedanta University project, Samal said the MoEF has asked for certain clarifications about the CRZ compliance and the environment clearances from the state government.
The vice-president also discussed with the chief secretary about the alternative sources of bauxite for the Lanjigarh refinery. He said the state government, which has promised to supply 150 million tonne of raw material to the plant, is looking at 5-6 other bauxite mines for the purpose.
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