Mumbai: The Supreme Court today concluded hearings on a case filed by local people against Vedanta Resources' open-cast mine project in the Niyamgiri hills in Orissa.

The bauxite is meant to feed the aluminium smelter of Vedanta subsidiary Sterlite Industries there.

The court is expected to issue a written order on the ''modalities and conditions" under which mining could proceed,  ActionAid, which has been campaigning against the mine, said.

The Supreme Court, however, did not give a date for delivering the judgement.

The court had earlier asked Sterlite to draw up a rehabilitation and environmental protection package as a condition for giving the green light to the mining project.

Sterlite has agreed to pay compensation to tribals displaced by the mine and has promised to spend five per cent of the profits from the bauxite mine and its smelter nearby, on rehabilitation.

ActionAid, however, said the tribals and conservationists would continue their fight against the mine irrespective of the judgement.

They said their struggle is not just about financial gains or losses, but is more about environment and livelihoods in general.

The local Dongria Kondh tribe and their conservationist friends say the mine will destroy hills they consider sacred, force them out of their homes and destroy their forest-dependent livelihoods.

They also criticised the government for wholesale sell-off of precious minerals for a pittance.

Counsels appearing for the tribals also demanded a more detailed rehabilitation package.