The Environment ministry has rejected Vedanta Aluminium's plan to expand its Lanjigarh refinery in Kalahandi district of Orissa citing violation of green norms. The London based metals giant had plans to increase the production capacity of the refinery from the current one million tonnes per annum to six million tonnes per annum. The ministry's action came as per the recommendations by N C Saxena panel which had alleged that Vedanta Aluminium Limited had undertaken expansion activity of the refinery without obtaining prior permission from it. The company has also been denied permission to increase its captive power plant capacity at the site. In a letter to the Vedanta, the ministry directed it to maintain status quo at the site and no further construction activity should be undertaken.Just two months ago, the ministry had rejected Vedanta Aluminium's proposal to mine bauxite from Orissa's Niyamgiri Hills citing threat to the ecology of the area and the Dongria Kondh tribe which lives in the hills.