Vedanta company is engaged in illegal coal mining at Jamkani in Sundargarh district, alleged Odisha Congress citing that illegal mining activities are rampant near the human settlement which has sparked resentment.
Congress campaign committee chairperson, Bijay Patnaik targeted the Odisha government by levelling such allegations. Patnaik also alleged that Vedanta doesn’t have environmental clearance for the same. According to Patnaik, new process should have been followed if there is no physical possession within 5 years of getting permission as per the 2013 rules.
The senior Congress leader further alleged that people are now living under haphazard conditions. There has been no gram sabha and no action has been taken towards rehabilitation, Patnaik said.
“As per norms, if there is no environmental clearance, Vedanta needs to take it. If it already has, the Company should fulfil the conditions,” said Patnaik.
Similarly, if the land acquisition has not taken place and people are staying there, land acquisition should be carried out as per the new Act, said Patnaik adding that all these amount to violation of law.
Patnaik further questioned the way Vedanta is carrying out coal mining and informed that he would write a letter to the Odisha government in this regard.
“If the state government does not take steps and stops coal mining, we will not refrain from taking legal action in the matter,” Patnaik added.
Responding to the allegations, BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said, “Bijay Patnaik should first clarify whether he is the spokesperson of the Congress or the BJP.” Meanwhile, Vedanta officials could not be contacted over the allegations.