Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: In response to an appeal filed by environmentalist Ramesh Gauns, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Vedanta Limited, and two other parties have received notices from the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Western Zone Bench, Pune. Gauns is attempting to revoke Vedanta Ltd.’s Environmental Clearance (EC) for iron ore mining at North Goa’s Bicholim Mineral Block-I (auction block).
Within the following four weeks, the MoEF&CC, Vedanta Ltd, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) are all expected to submit their answers. Vedanta Ltd. was awarded the EC, dated January 23, 2024, by the MoEF&CC for the proposed 3.0 MTPA iron ore mining capacity.
In addition, the project includes a crushing and screening plant with a capacity of 4.0 MTPA and waste excavation of 25.162 million tons per annum (MTPA), for a total excavation of 28.162 MTPA. The mine is spread among a number of villages in the Bicholim Taluka, including Bordem, Lamgao, Mulgao, Mayem, Sirigao, and Bicholim.
On the grounds that Vedanta allegedly neglected to provide information in Form No. 1 about the existence of 13 lakes close to the Bicholim Mining Block-I, Gauns has challenged the EC.
Additionally, he has questioned the cumulative effect assessment, arguing that it failed to take other current mining operations in the area into consideration. Gauns also expressed disapproval of the public hearing procedure, claiming that it was held at the location against established protocols.
In August 2023, the GSPCB conducted an environmental public hearing in Sarvan, Nicholim, for the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) of the Bicholim Mineral Block-I.
In December 2022, Goa held its first e-auction of mining leases, and Vedanta Ltd. won the bid for the Bicholim Mining Block-I.
The appeal was accepted by the NGT Western Bench, which was composed of Expert Member Dr. Vijay Kulkarni and Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh. The four respondents were then sent notices. On April 24, there will be another hearing on the case.
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SC dismisses Vedanta Ltd SLP on auction of Curpem/Sulcorna lease block
Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: An plea by Vedanta Ltd. to stop the Goa government’s e-auction for the iron ore mining lease at the Curpem and Sulcorna Mineral Block-XI in Sanguem and Quepem Talukas, South Goa, was denied by the Supreme Court on Monday.
As the highest bidder in the November 14 auction and the recipient of the ensuing letter of intent for the mining block, Vedanta Ltd. had requested to be designated the preferred bidder.
But a Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Abhay S. Oka maintained the Bombay High Court at Goa’s February 4 ruling, which had permitted additional bidding for the lease.
After another bidder, Agravanshi Pvt Ltd, expressed concerns about a technological issue that purportedly stopped them from placing a higher bid, the Directorate of Mines and Geology had reopened the auction.
Vedanta maintained that there was no demonstrated fault in the auction procedure and that the problem was only at the bidder’s end. In spite of this, the Court declined to step in and let the bidding proceed.
