Mining giants, state-owned Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) and the Vedanta group have said that they see an opportunity in the latest verdict by the Supreme Court of India for their projects.

Those against allowing the extraction of bauxite mining at Niyamgiri hills welcomed the order from the apex court on the matter. Chief operating officer of Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL) Mukesh Kumar said that the company welcomes the decision by the Supreme Court and pointed out that it will ensure that the miner has assured supplies for its alumina project.

He did not announce more details on the matter but said that the Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) will be able to provide more details as it moved the apex court in the matter. Saswat Mishra, the Chairman and managing director of OMC said that the SC judgement is positive for the corporation, the state government as well as for the company.

“The ministry of environment and forests had rejected the bauxite mining proposal in 2010, but the apex court order has kept the door ajar. To that extent, it is a positive judgment for us,” Mishra said.

The OMC had approached the Supreme Court in 2011 to challenge the MoEF's August 24, 2010, order did not give clearance to Stage-II forest clearance for diversion of 660 hectare of forest land for mining of bauxite in Niyamgiri hills located in Kalahandi and Rayagada districts of the state.