According to a recent report, India’s Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change’s expert panel has declined to approve Vedanta Limited’s investment proposal worth INR 1,240 crore to expand the capacity from 16 MTPA to 18 MTPA of an aluminium smelter in Jharsugud in Odisha for not complying with environmental norms. The ministry rejected the expansion proposal on the grounds that the smelter has been violating the terms and conditions imposed upon Vedanta in lieu of the green clearance given to it 13 years ago. In addition, the committee has recommended issuing show-cause notice to Vedanta for failing to comply with the norms.EAC observed in the minutes of its 42nd meeting held on August 12-13 “Proposal to be returned in its present form and the same would be considered by the EAC after the compliance to the existing Environmental Clearance conditions has been achieved by the Project Proponent.”As per Vedanta’s proposal, the power required for the expanded smelter would be 2,960 MW, out of which additional 400 MW would be obtained from the state power grid or the adjacent coal-based power plant. All the nine units of the captive power plant are already operational. While Vedanta has no plans to expand the capacity of its captive thermal power plant, it also proposed to acquire a large area for the disposal of fly ash. This proposal was earlier accepted by Odisha government. In June 2008, Vedanta received a nod from the central government for setting up a 16 MTPA smelter
According to a recent report, India’s Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change’s expert panel has declined to approve Vedanta Limited’s investment proposal worth INR 1,240 crore to expand the capacity from 16 MTPA to 18 MTPA of an aluminium smelter in Jharsugud in Odisha for not complying with environmental norms. The ministry rejected the expansion proposal on the grounds that the smelter has been violating the terms and conditions imposed upon Vedanta in lieu of the green clearance given to it 13 years ago. In addition, the committee has recommended issuing show-cause notice to Vedanta for failing to comply with the norms.EAC observed in the minutes of its 42nd meeting held on August 12-13 “Proposal to be returned in its present form and the same would be considered by the EAC after the compliance to the existing Environmental Clearance conditions has been achieved by the Project Proponent.”As per Vedanta’s proposal, the power required for the expanded smelter would be 2,960 MW, out of which additional 400 MW would be obtained from the state power grid or the adjacent coal-based power plant. All the nine units of the captive power plant are already operational. While Vedanta has no plans to expand the capacity of its captive thermal power plant, it also proposed to acquire a large area for the disposal of fly ash. This proposal was earlier accepted by Odisha government. In June 2008, Vedanta received a nod from the central government for setting up a 16 MTPA smelter
