SC ruling on vedanta project in odisha, mining in bellary tomorrow

NEW DELHI: The supreme court will on thursday rule on the fate of vedanta's controversial plan to mine Odisha's Niyamgiri hills for alumina and also the fate of B and C category mines barred from mining iron ore in karnataka's bellary district.

A special bench led by justic aftab alam will rule on these issues as justice alam retires tomorrow. In odisha, the moef withdrew environment and forest clearances to sterlite's plan to mine the hills for its lanjigarh project effectively cutting off all supplies to the plant.

A court ban on mining of iron ore in bellary had hit the iron and steel sector hard. The court may tomorrow relax the ban for b and c category mines who have done their part to restore the area's ecology.