Privilege notice against Orissa Steel and Mines minister

Bhubaneswar, Mar 14: Opposition Congress Deputy leader Narashingh Mishra today moved a privilege notice against Orissa Steel and Mines Minister Pradeep Kumar Amat for intentionally misleading the House during reply on an Adjournment Motion March 13.

Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, Mr Mishra said the Minister had categorically stated that the Vedant Aluminium Limited (VAL) had not violated the Supreme Court order.

The Congress member said the statement of Mr Amat was motivated and malafide since the Supreme Court had clearly observed that taking the totality of the factors into consideration, it was not inclined to clear the project.

Mr Mishra said the VAL had moved the apex court on an application over construction of the alumina refinery at Lanjigarh over 723 acres of land which also included 58 acres of forest land, seeking direction to run the plant, which was turned down by the court.

He said the Steel and Mines Minister had given the statement in the House with some ulterior motive and urged Speaker Maheswar Mohanty to consider his privilege notice during the Session.

The Speaker said he had received the notice and would give his ruling during the Session after examining it.

UNI