PANAJI
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to take a decision “positively” within one month on Vedanta Limited’s proposal to amend its Environmental Clearance (EC) to allow the transportation of iron ore from its Bicholim Mineral Block-I through an extended stretch of public road.
The green tribunal has also allowed the mining company to continue using the public road route for transporting ore. The matter will be heard next on September 30.
The NGT had earlier, in June, allowed Vedanta to use the public road stretch for two months and directed the company to amend its EC accordingly. Following the order, the company approached the MoEF&CC. However, as the Ministry did not take up the proposal, Vedanta returned to the Tribunal seeking further permission to use the route. “In the meantime we grant liberty to the applicant to continue to use that route. We further direct the MoEF&CC to take a decision in the matter within a period of one month positively,” the Tribunal directed.
Vedanta transports ore from its Bicholim mining block to the Sarmanas jetty through a 5.48-km route. The transport corridor includes a 4.54-km dedicated road and a 0.94-km stretch of public road on MDR-20, passing through Bordem, Lamgao, Mulgao, Mayem and Sirigao.
The issue arose after the MoEF&CC, in an affidavit filed before the Tribunal on January 28, 2026, informed that Vedanta had obtained temporary permission from the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) to use an extended stretch of MDR-20 for transporting ore.
The NGT observed that any change in the transport route could have environmental implications and required an assessment of pollution impacts linked to ore transportation.
Vedanta’s Bicholim mining operations resumed after the company secured environmental clearance in January 2024.
