Environment Min committee gives nod to Vedanta varsity

STAFF WRITER 11:22 HRS IST
New Delhi, Aug 9 (PTI) A committee of the Environment Ministry has given the green signal to the Vedanta Group to set up its university in over 6,000 acres of land on the Puri-Konark Marine Drive in Orissa, notwithstanding protests from locals and activists.Raising environmental concerns, locals have been protesting the state government's move to acquire land alleging that it would not only displace 22 villages but also threaten the wildlife habitat in the region."The government is offering community land to the MNC (Vedanta Group) in the name of education without keeping in mind the interests of locals."Balukanda sanctuary which is the habitat of deer and has water bodies has been offered to Vedanta on a platter," alleged Vasudev, an activist of the Vedanta Vishvidhayala Virodhi Sangarsh Samiti.