Goemakrponn desk
PANAJI: With reference to the news published in Goemkarponn dated 4 September 2021, headlined-“Vedanta’s big blow as expansion project turned down” the company Vedanta limited has sent a rejoinder saying the news carried factually and procedurally incorrect information regarding the subject.
“We would like to clarify some of the points mentioned in news item as below: Review and evaluation of the proposal by EAC is part of the regular process towards obtaining the resp. clearances. Hence, Vedanta is in the process of responding to the observations raised by EAC,” said Vedanta- Value Added Business (VAB) in its response.
The EAC sent back the Vedanta Ltd proposal for expanding its plant at Navelim-Amona due to several issues that the company has not responded to, including how it proposes to deal with the issues raised during the public hearing.
The EAC has also requested MoEF & CC to issue a Show Cause Notice to the Project Proponent for the non-compliance to the existing EC conditions as mentioned.
“Committee recommended to returning proposal in its present form to address the shortcomings as enumerated above. Further, PP is required to undertake necessary corrective action on the said non-compliances and the latest compliance report on the same from the concerned
Regional Office of MoEF & CC is required,” the EAC said.
Vedanta had moved EC for Up-Gradation of Blast Furnaces (BF) to enhance the production capacity (BF-1 & 2 from 2,92,000 TPA to 3,50,000 TPA; BF-3 from 5,40,000 TPA to 6,50,000 TPA); setting up of additional oxygen plant, installation of ductile iron pipe plant and additional met coke battery and setting up of Fe-Si plant of 5,000 TPA capacity.
The EAC has directed Vedanta to undertake a cumulative impact assessment study and revise the project’s current environmental impact assessment report.
Two major jolts to Vedanta within a week
Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The Vedanta group received two major jolts within a week from The Supreme Court and the Expert Appraisal Committee.
While the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal against an appeal filed by Vedanta Ltd against a Bombay High Court order concerning their alleged mining rights for 50 years, teh EAC rejected the proposal for expansion of the Amona plant.
In the appeal against a Bombay High Court order, Vedanta has said that their mining rights for a period of 50 years, that is, till the year 2037, despite earlier Supreme Court judgements cancelling their leases for good.
The Court also dismissed a writ petition by former mining leaseholder Geetabala Parulekar filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, which canvassed similar grounds.
Earlier, on 9 July 2021, the Supreme Court had already dismissed a batch of review petitions filed by the Goa government and by Vedanta against its judgement dated 7.2.2018 cancelling the grant of second renewal for 88 mining leases in the state of Goa.