Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik hoped on Tuesday there was 'no politics' behind Environment Ministry rejecting clearance for the Vedanta project while Union Minister Jairam Ramesh dispelled any such impression.
An unhappy Patnaik also said that Ramesh, Environment Minister, had given no indication of Tuesday's decision not to give clearance to the group's proposed $1.7 billion bauxite mining project in the state when he met him in Delhi on Tuesday.
"He (Ramesh) had never mentioned on Monday this (rejection of clearance to Vedanta's mining project)," Patnaik told reporters in Bhubaneswar.
Asked whether there was any politics behind the Centre's action, Patnaik said, "I certainly hope there is no politics."
Ramesh, on his part, said no politics or prejudice against the Biju Janata Dal-ruled government was involved in his ministry's decision.
"There has been no emotions and no politics and no prejudice involved in the Vedanta's case. . . . The decision is purely on the basis of the proper legal approach," which Ramesh said was based on the Saxena panel report, auditor general's report and recommendations of the FAC.
Ramesh said he has no prejudices against the Orissa government as his ministry has cleared an important irrigation project in the state for which the in-principle approval was accorded on Monday.
"While rejecting this (Vedanta) project, I have also cleared an important irrigation project in the state in which over 1500 hectares of forest land is involved," the minister said. Patnaik said his government would undertake a 'detailed examination' of the Environment and Forest Ministry's refusal to grant environment clearance to the project.
"The state government would undertake a detailed examination of the Union Environment and Forest ministry's rejection order and would take correct and appropriate steps on the matter," he said.
On the N C Saxena panel finding fault in implementation of forest rights act, forest conservation act and environment protection act, he said the state government worked on the directives of the Supreme Court while making progress on the mining project.
"These investments in Orissa were meant to generate jobs for the people and add to the state's revenue.
Therefore, they should be given go ahead," he said, adding that tribal dominated backward district like Kalahandi had never received such a huge investment in the past. Ramesh also dismissed reports that rejection was a sort of deal in lieu of clearance to the Korean steel giant Posco's proposed Rs 54,000-crore (Rs 540-billion) project in the state.
The two cannot be equated as the violations of forest dwellers by the latter at the site were also being investigated, he said.
Image: Naveen Patnaik
