Article
Vedanta mine plan halted by Indian government
Controversial plans to develop a bauxite mine on sacred tribal land in India have been scuppered as India's environment ministry has rejected a proposal by Vedanta Resources to mine the aluminium ore in the eastern state of Orissa...The project had been thrown into doubt last week when a government inquiry said that mining would destroy the way of life of the area's "endangered" and "primitive" people, the Kutia and Dongria Kondh tribes...Jairam Ramesh, the minister for environment and forests, said..."There are very serious violations of environment act and forest right act,"...Vedanta...can appeal against the decision...Meredith Alexander, head of trade and corporates at ActionAid, said: "Today the Kondh people are celebrating a massive victory in the campaign to safeguard their very existence..."