The Central Empowered Committee appointed by the Supreme Court has recommended the revocation of clearance granted by the Ministry of Environment and Forest to Sterlite Industries’ subsidiary Vedanta Alumina’s Rs 4,000-crore refinery project in Orissa’s Kalahandi district.The committee has sought the court’s direction for stopping work at once at Lanjigarh.The project is totally dependent on mining of bauxite from Niyamgiri Hills, Lanjigarh — an important wildlife habitat, which is part of the elephant corridor. It is a proposed wildlife sanctuary, having dense and virgin forest, the residence of an endangered Dongaria Kandha tribe, said the report, which was submitted on September 21.Criticising the approach of the Centre and the state, the report added: ‘‘The casual approach, the lackadaisical manner and the haste with which the entire issue of forests and environmental clearance for the alumina refinery project has been dealt with, smacks of undue favour/leniency and does not inspire confidence.’’
