Vedanta: Church enquiry to Orissa mine site illegal

Church of England inquiring the alumina refinery of Vedanta Resources in Orissa's Niyamgiri Hills is illegal, says its promoter Anil Agarwal.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams had earlier expressed concern over the Church's investment with the company that is facing criticism from all quarters for "turning a sacred mountain into a mine site."

The Church's officials were ordered to travel to Kalanidhi district and investigate on the allegations. But, Agarwal says such an enquiry is against the constitution of India and also violates the guidelines of the Supreme Court.

However, the chief executive officer of Vedanta Aluminium at Lanjigarh, Mukesh Kumar, says the company respects its investors and it is willing to show the project area to the Church officials.

Kumar opined that if the Church was unhappy with the project, they were welcome to withdraw its investment. Nonetheless, the company's finance will not be affected, he says.

Several human rights organisations and environmental activists are urging the Church of England to withdraw its £2.5m share in the mining firm that plans an open-cast mine on the mountain that is home to 8,000-strong Dongria Kondh tribe.

Survival International, Amnesty International, Action Aid and others warn that the mine can destroy the area's ecosystem and threaten the future of the tribal people.

Survival International alleges that Vedanta has failed to consider the implications of its activities in respect of the Dongria Kondh.

Incidentally, the mine project has already been approved by the Supreme Court of India and by the State of Orissa.