Comments on: Vedanta Mining Poses Health Hazard in Orissa: Amnesty http://www.vamban.com/news/vedanta-mining-poses-health-hazard-in-orissa-amnesty/ Hot and Fresh Sun, 15 Aug 2010 14:24:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: S. Sahoo http://www.vamban.com/news/vedanta-mining-poses-health-hazard-in-orissa-amnesty/comment-page-1/#comment-4824 S. Sahoo Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:22:32 +0000 http://www.vamban.com/vedanta-mining-poses-health-hazard-in-orissa-amnesty/#comment-4824 The report implicitly criticizes a number of highly respected Indian governmental, regulatory and independent assessment organizations, including the Hon’ble Supreme Court and the State of Orissa, all of whom have reviewed, refined and endorsed the scrupulous approach manifested by Vedanta Resources in every aspect of the project’s operation. The majority of the Amnesty International report is based on an outdated document which was subjected to intense scrutiny by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, over a two and a half year period. This detailed process included the appointment of a range of specialist expert committees which considered issues as diverse as the geological, environmental and wildlife impacts of the project. Amnesty International was fully briefed by Vedanta on the nationally scrutinized processes and environmental safeguards followed over many years by the company prior to commencing the project and during its development. Representatives from Amnesty International visited Lanjigarh in March 2009 & had nearly full day discussions with Vedanta in presence of District Collector & Magistrate, Kalahandi, Orissa. All the documents required by them were submitted for their verification to maintain transparency. Amnesty international refused to go with Vedanta and District Magistrate & Collector for a joint verification of the 8 villages they had visited before coming to Vedanta. The report implicitly criticizes a number of highly respected Indian governmental, regulatory and independent assessment organizations, including the Hon’ble Supreme Court and the State of Orissa, all of whom have reviewed, refined and endorsed the scrupulous approach manifested by Vedanta Resources in every aspect of the project’s operation.

The majority of the Amnesty International report is based on an outdated document which was subjected to intense scrutiny by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, over a two and a half year period. This detailed process included the appointment of a range of specialist expert committees which considered issues as diverse as the geological, environmental and wildlife impacts of the project.

Amnesty International was fully briefed by Vedanta on the nationally scrutinized processes and environmental safeguards followed over many years by the company prior to commencing the project and during its development. Representatives from Amnesty International visited Lanjigarh in March 2009 & had nearly full day discussions with Vedanta in presence of District Collector & Magistrate, Kalahandi, Orissa. All the documents required by them were submitted for their verification to maintain transparency. Amnesty international refused to go with Vedanta and District Magistrate & Collector for a joint verification of the 8 villages they had visited before coming to Vedanta.

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