CHENNAI: It looks like that the London-based Vedanta Resources’ plan to mine for bauxite in Orissa will run into rough weather with the majority of the local residents expressing their views against the project.

The miner had sought to source the ore for its alumina refinery. The company intended to produce one million ton a year alumina refinery in Orissa, but could not operate in full capacity for want of bauxite, which is an important raw material for producing alumina.

Vedanta also has a joint venture agreement with Odisha Mining Corp. (OMC), a state run company, for developing a bauxite mine and supplies it to Vedanta’s alumina refinery. In August 2010, the environment ministry had terminated the stage II forest clearance that was given to Vedanta’s bauxite project following opposition from local residents and activists. The OMC has taken the matter to the Supreme Court against the environment ministry.