New Delhi, April 1: Orissa Mining Corporation’s plea against denial of clearance by the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) to mine bauxite in Kalahandi’s Niyamgiri hills for its joint venture partner Sterlite Industries (a Vedanta sister concern) ran into technical problems in the Supreme Court today.

The corporation had filed an application in the top court against the MoEF decision of August 24, 2010. However, the court told the OMC counsel to file either a writ petition or a contempt petition instead, against the MoEF for violating the top court’s orders on this.