Orissa likely to take Vedanta issue to PM: BJD MP

BHUBANESWAR: With the Centre rejecting environmental clearance to UK-based Vedanta's mining project at Niyamgiri Hills in Orissa, a BJD MP on Tuesday said the state government was likely to seek Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's intervention.

"Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh is not the head of the union government. We may take the matter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and seek his intervention as the mining project is important for the people of the state," senior BJD MP Pyari Mohan Mohapatra said.

Claiming that the state government proceeded in accordance with Supreme Court directives on the mining project, Mohapatra, who is considered the chief advisor of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, said BJD would fight it out.

Earlier, Patnaik said his government would undertake a "detailed examination" of the Environment Ministry's order.

Industries and Steel and Mines Minister Raghunath Mohanty termed the Centre's rejection as 'unfortunate' and said it would prevent flow of investment into the state.