Odisha High Court allows Public Hearing on expansion of production capacity of Vedanta Ltd.
Jharsuguda: In partial modification of its Tuesday order, Odisha High Court on Wednesday allowed a Public hearing on expansion of production capacity of M/s Vedanta Ltd., Jharsuguda. However, the court puts a rider that the administration will not take a decision on basis of the hearing till next date of hearing on the matter.
As reported, M/s Vedanta Limited has proposed an Environmental Assessment for expansion of Aluminum Smelter (Capacity from 16 LTPA to 18 LTPA (Lakhs Tones Per Annum)) by adding 2 LTPA smelter plants at Bhurkhamunda Village.
On Wednesday, Vedanta had filed a review petition on the Tuesday order, when Odisha High Court on Wednesday allowed Vedanta to conduct the Public hearing.
The villagers of Dalki Panchayat, Badmal Panchayat, Katikela Panchayat, Sirpura Panchayat have extended their support with condition of providing local job assurance, Providing ITI trainings for the youth of the villagers and efficient environment protection plan for the proposed expansion of Production Capacity of M/s Vedanta Ltd.
Jharsuguda Additional District Magistrate Pradeep Kumar Sahoo said that “Several villagers had participated in today’s public hearing on Environmental Impact Assessment, we have recorded the views of the villagers and will submit it to the concerned authority.”
Jharsuguda Regional Officer of Odisha State Pollution Control Board, H. N. Nayak said, �Around 62 villagers had spoken in favour of the company while 6 villagers had extended their conditional support for the company. While 80 people had submitted their written statement.�
