Bhubaneswar: The Vedanta Group has been fined over Rs 71.1 crore by the State Pollution Control Board, Odisha, for unauthorised disposal of flyash.
Flyash is a powdery residue from furnaces that burn coal. Unless disposed of in a proper manner, it is a potential health hazard and causes immense damage to the environment. Both the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and the National Green Tribunal has specific guidelines regarding its disposal.
“The issue pertains to allegations of unauthorised disposal of flyash. The member secretary, State Pollution Control Board, Odisha, requested the company to deposit the environmental compensation of Rs 71,16,53,320,” Vedanta has stated in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).
The company, in the filing, has said that it plans to move appropriate fora against this order.
“The company is hopeful of a favourite outcome thereof and does not expect the said Order to have any material financial impact on the company,” it has stated.
Vedanta Ltd is a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources Ltd. It is one of the world’s largest natural resources companies with operations across India, South Africa, Namibia, Liberia, UAE, Korea, Taiwan and Japan. Its chief areas of operation are oil and natural gas, zinc, lead, silver, copper, iron ore, steel, nickel, aluminium power and glass substrate.
The company now proposes to enter the domain of semiconductors and display glass. Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL), a group company, is the world’s largest integrated zinc producer, supplying the metal to over 40 countries.
