Orissa moves SC against Centre in Vedanta’s mining ban

Orissa Mining Corporation, on behalf of the state government, has filed a case against the Ministry of Environment and Forest for over ruling the Supreme Court's order on the allocation of Niyamgiri bauxite mine to Vedanta Aluminium, sources with direct knowledge said.

According to the writ filed by OMC, the Supreme Court had allowed Vedanta to mine the Niyamgiri reserves in a judgment in August 2008. OMC states that MoEF has gone against the SC judgment and banned Vedanta Aluminium from mining in Orissa based on environmental concerns.

Orissa Mining Corporation owns the Niyamgiri mines and has filed the case to protect the interest of Anil Agarwal's Vedanta Aluminium which is setting up a huge aluminium project which is bringing in huge investments in the state.