M/S.Vedanta Aluminium Limited, ... vs Union Of India And Another.

The environment and forests ministry in 2010 stalled the expansion of Vedanta alumina refinery project in Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district from one million tonnes a year to six million tonnes capacity and of its captive power plant from 75 to 300 MW. Vedanta had moved the court against the order. The Orissa High Court Tuesday dismissed Vedanta Aluminum Ltd's petition to quash the central government's notification stalling expansion of its refinery project in the State. The environment ministry had in August last year issued show cause notice to the company under the Environment Protection Act for undertaking construction without prior clearance under the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification-2006.After examining the company's response on the matter, the ministry in October cancelled the terms of reference issued in 2009.The ministry then directed the company to maintain status quo at the site and asked it to ensure that no further construction was undertaken in respect of expansion of the project. The ministry had also asked the state secretary for environment and forest to take legal action against the company under the provision of the Environment Protection Act for violation of Environmental Impact Assessment Notification-2006. The ministry had also asked the company to furnish a fresh proposal to obtain environmental clearance for the proposed expansion. the Orissa High Court on Tuesday upheld the Center's decision of stalling the expansion bid and withdrawing the terms of reference (ToR) granted to the company. The High Court, however, allowed the company to make a fresh bid to obtain environmental clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) for any further expansion of its existing units.