New Delhi, July 31 -- The Delhi High Court has granted interim relief to Vedanta Ltd, in an order dated 24 July, directing status quo on the coal ministry's move to appropriate Rs.29.23 crore from the company's Rs.263.17 crore performance bank guarantee amid a dispute over delays at its Radhikapur (West) coal mine in Odisha.

Vedanta had challenged a 21 July order by the coal ministry's Nominated Authority directing the appropriation from its Rs.263.17 crore guarantee. In its writ petition, a copy of which was reviewed by Mint, the company sought a stay on the order and an extension of project milestones, citing regulatory delays and unforeseen ecological issues.

Vedanta won the coal mine in a 2020 auction. The mine is critical to poweri...