Vedanta violating green norms in Orissa: Govt

New Delhi, Mar 13 (PTI) Multi-billion dollar mining giant
Vedanata Resources has violated environment regulations at its
Rs 50,000-crore project in eastern Indian state of Orissa
giving a go-by to tribal rights, the Indian government has
said.
"I can say that they have violated Forest Rights Act,
without taking consideration of the tribal rights,"
India's Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said Friday night,
adding the violation was both on the tribal front and also of
the forest regulations.
Commenting on a ministerial expert committee that had
gone into various mining projects in Orissa, he said Niyamgiri
mining activities of Anil Agarwal led Vedanta had been found
in violation of different regulations.
At the same time, he hit at campaigns launched by human
right groups like Amnesty against the project as also its
counter by the company through full page advertisements in
national and local dailies.
A three-member team of the Union Environment Ministry
submitted its report to the government Friday, saying it
has found evidence of violations of green norms at the
company's bauxite project in the Kalahandi district of Orissa.
"I would not subscribe to the high-profile campaign in
the case by various groups... I am looking at the case on
merit basis," he said, adding the company had started
construction work on land that belongs to the revenue
department without necessary clearances. More PTI