BHUBANESWAR: In a fresh setback to Vedanta Aluminium Ltd (VAL), the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has put off the issue of terms of reference (ToR) for the expansion of the company’s Lanjigarh refinery project. The ToR issuance is necessary to conduct environment impact assessment (EIA) study for VAL’s alumina refinery project. The MoEF took the decision in view of the Review Petition which VAL had filed before the Odisha High Court seeking reconsideration of the court’s decision to stop the expansion. “It is proposed that the issuance of ToR be kept in abeyance till the disposal of the Review Petition by the High Court of Odisha,” the MoEF notice said. Earlier in August, the Vedanta Aluminium Ltd had applied to the Ministry for issue of ToR as a pre-condition to carry out the EIA study for its expansion project.Vedanta’s proposed expansion of its 1 million tonne per annum (MTPA) alumina refinery to 6 MTPA had been halted by the MoEF following a report from the Saxena Committee which castigated VAL for carrying out the expansion programme without any environment clearance. The Ministry had issued stop work order in October last year. Later, the High Court also rejected plea of Vedanta in July upholding the MoEF decision to stay the expansion of the alumina refinery in Lanjigarh.The VAL had also sought enhancement of the captive power generation to 285 MW from the existing 75 MW at its facility at Lanjigarh but the MoEF decision has put it in the backburner too.
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