It is really sad and unfortunate Vedanta is dragged into this needless controversy with utter disregard to propriety and whether all this is believable. Among the multiple roles played by media, the most important one is to enable readers make intelligent choices. Amnesty is just making an attempt to tarnish the image of Anil Agarwal who have created one of the largest metal conglomerates
The project area & its environmental what is alleged by Amnesty are false. As per my knowledge and sources the actual mineralization area in the proposed mining project is 3.5 sq. km. The Mining lease area consists of 672.018 Ha of forest land and 49.305 Ha of non forest land. While 270.489 ha of forest land interspersed between the mining blocks will be preserved at project cost, balance 390.25 ha of forest land is proposed to be utilized for mining and auxiliary facilities.
The entire approach to mineral exploration is being carried out on a scientific basis, based on accepted geological and environmental parameters, which have already been scrutinized and approved by Indian Bureau of Mines and an expert team of MOEF before granting Environmental Clearance for the project.
The mined out area will be simultaneously backfilled with overburden as per the approved reclamation plan by IBM . At no point of time more than 20 Ha area will be exposed for mining. After back filling, the entire area will be used for plantation as per the approved mining plan after mining operations are complete to ensure forest cover and to make the entire area green. Hence, a barren hill will be converted into a green hill. Lanjigarh Refinery is amongst the few in the world to have attained zero discharge status.
I am deeply resentful of all attempts being made by Amnesty International to belittle the achievements of scores of dedicated professionals and Sterlite who by their tireless efforts have made this stupendous achievement possible in such a short time of taking Indian to global road map. This is a needless controversy. The rumormonger should be severely punished.