SC final verdict on Niyamgiri mining today

The Supreme Court of India is slated to announce its final verdict relating to the mining in Niyamgiri hills in Kalahandi district on Thursday. The court had completed the hearing in the case on March 21 and reserved the judgment. The judgment is crucial for the Vedanta group as it would determine the survival of its lanjigarah refinery and Jharsuguda Smelter units.

The Vedanta and State public sector Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) who formed a joint venture for bauxite mining in the Niyamgiri hills, inhabited by primitive Dongaria Kondha tribe people, had petitioned the Supreme Court against the Ministry of Environment and Forests’ (MoEF) rejection of its mining lease. The MoEF had rejected the grant of stage-II forest clearance for diversion of around 661 hectares of forest land for bauxite mining in the Niyamgiri hills.

The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) and lok Shakti Abhiyan of Prafula Samantara in their petition in the apex court had opposed the mining in Niyamgiri on the plea that if the mining would be allowed, the livelihood and survival of the Dongarias would be at a stake.