After giving clearance to the multi-million dollar project promoted by Anil Agrawal Foundation, promoter of Sterlite group on April 16, Jairam Ramesh found that something was amiss.
Jairam Ramesh may have been restricted from interacting with the media, but he still has powers to take his administrative decisions.
After stopping the work at Maheshwar hydro-electric project in Madhya Pradesh last week, the environment and forest minister has targeted Orissa’s prestigious Vedanta university project.
After giving clearance to the multi-million dollar project promoted by Anil Agrawal Foundation, promoter of Sterlite group on April 16, Jairam Ramesh found that something was amiss.
His ministry on Tuesday put on hold a clearance to set up Vedanta university in Orissa. The proposed university is at the centre of an escalating controversy over the way the Orissa government went all hog to acquire land for it despite it being a private venture by an NRI who has no experience of running the educational institutions. Sam Pitroda, chairman of the National Knowledge Commission, who is tipped to be the founding chancellor of the university, is reported to have influenced the MoEF to grant the mandatory environment and CRZ (Coastal Regulation Zone) clearance.
In a letter shot off to the foundation, the MoEF has said that the clearance granted on April 16 shall be kept in abeyance till a final decision is taken by the ministry in view of the allegations of “irregularities, illegal, unethical and unlawful deeds” by the foundation. The letter, however, does not identify the complainant.
The letter directs the foundation not to proceed with any construction or development pending detailed examination of all the issues raised in the complaint by the Expert Appraisal Committee of the ministry. It also refers to objections raised during the Orissa Coastal Zone Management Authority meeting.
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