Vedanta replies to ministry’s showcause notices

BHUBANESWAR - Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL), a subsidiary of the London listed Vedanta Resources, Wednesday replied to the showcause notices served by the environment and forest ministry last month.

“We have submitted our response along with all necessary supporting documents to both the showcause notices issued by Ministry of environment and forests (MoEF)” VAL’s Chief Operating Officer Mukesh Kumar told IANS.

“We can not disclose the content of the reply at this point as the matter is under review by the ministry,” he said.

However, he added, “once again we would like to reiterate that no violations has been done by Vedanta on any account and Vedanta is a law abiding company and have high respect for the law of the land.”

The MoEF had issued the show cause notices Aug 31, accusing the company of procuring bauxite from some illegally run mines and undertaking expansion activities in Lanjigarh area in Orissa’s Kalahandi district without proper clearances.

The showcause notices were served few days after the ministry rejected company’s mining project in the nearby Niyamgiri hills saying it would affect the tribals living in the area and the environment.