Steady rehab subdues Lanjigarh unit stir: Vedanta

The Pioneer, 16th July, 2008
Pioneer News Service Bhubaneswar

Claiming that Vedanta Aluminium Limited offers best rehabilitation package, the company aims to reduce the impact of its activities on environment wherever feasible.
The majority of the sites are certified to the international environmental management systems standard ISO 14001. This includes the requirement that environmental impacts are identified and that there are ongoing programmes for improvement across the key impact areas.
The problems of the aluminum industry in Kalahandi, one of the most backward tribal majority districts in Orissa, are not new. There had been opposition even in the pre-Independence era, and after the Independence too, political parties and environmental activists continue to protest against the mining and setting up of a refinery at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district.
Of late, however, the protests have subdued to a large extent, ostensibly because Vedanta has already constructed the refinery, commenced trial production and also started several community development activities. All 120 displaced families have got pucca houses with electricity and water supply. Apart from compensation for the lost land, at least one youth from each displaced family has been trained and given a job in the refinery. About 2,500 people have found employment in the project directly or indirectly.
Another thing that worked in their favour, locals say, was Sasya-Silpa Abhijan, a Vedanta-initiated project for vegetable cultivation, run in collaboration with the Asian Institute of Sustainable Development, which gave a boost to agriculture in the area. Over 550 acres of land nearly 500 farmers are participating in the project as "partners."
A farmer Dinanath Pangi said training and support from Vedanta had been helpful although they bear the expenses for irrigation through diesel pump sets.
Vedanta has also been offering a host of self-employment options for residents of the surrounding villages, including women's self-help groups, and has collaborated with the district health department on the Swasthya Parivar project, which is an example of Public-Private Partnership in Orissa's troubled health sector.
Vedanta Aluminium Ltd has inked a Memorandum of Understanding with the State Government and Sterlite Foundation for adopting 400 Anganwadis in Kalahandi district, Vedanta group spokesman CV Krishnan said.
The same process is being implemented in Kalahandi and would be replicated in Jharsuguda.
Giving a detailed account of the company's child welfare programme Krishnan said, "Vedanta believes in giving back to society what it has given us."
In order to ensure that everything went as per plan, the process would be reviewed by a committee headed by the district Collector. The local MLA and chairmen of panchayat samitis would be its members, he said. Besides, Vedanta is also working to strengthen infrastructure in the Kalahandi district and Jharsuguda by increasing the electricity network, constructing roads and developing educational and healthcare facilities, Krishnan said.
While about 2,000 people have got direct employment at the refinery at Lanjigarh, over 2,000 others are getting indirect income generating opportunities, he added.