Home Minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday said the government has decided to not allow "extractive industries" to operate if they adversely impact the natural habitat of tribals.

Chidambaram's statement comes within a week of the Environment Ministry not granting clearances for Vedanta's proposed USD 1.7 billion mining project in Orissa.

"The two cases you mentioned (Posco and Vedanta) are only about extractive industries. The decision that UPA-II has made is that we will not allow these extractive industries if it means destroying the environment and the natural habitat of the tribal people. Now that is the decision we have made," Chidambaram told CNBC-TV18 at a function here.

The minister said it was likely the mining major will find alternative sources to mine bauxite to feed its aluminium projects in Orissa.

"They will probably find other sources of raw material," he said when asked what could be the alternative for Vedanta Resources and Posco, whose proposed projects have been stalled by the Environment Ministry.

"Now, until some years ago, there was no consciousness about environment at all. No environment debates in this country like many other countries," he added.

Posco has proposed a Rs 54,000 crore steel project in Orissa, which has been unable to take off on account of non- receipt of regulatory clearances.

Earlier this month, the Environment Ministry asked the Orissa government to stall all work on the project on account of the violation of green norms.

Similarly, Vedanta's proposed mining project was rejected over environmental concerns.