Foreign NGOs now target Vedanta expansion in Odisha

Steelguru, April 24, 2012
Vedanta Aluminium's Lanjigarh project in Odisha may become another Kudankulam, as environment activists belonging to foreign non Government organizations have suddenly surfaced to show their concern.

Vedanta Aluminum's plan to expand its annual capacity from 1 million tonnes to 6 million tonnes has been halted due to environmental concerns. The company is now in the process of going for a fresh public hearing on the basis of new terms of reference.

Meanwhile, according to sources, two Australians have forwarded their environmental concerns regarding Vedanta's expansion through the High Commissioner of India in Australia. However, Government sources here refused to comment on the matter.

But, documents with Business Line show that one letter signed by one Mr JW Peter of PF Trust Queensland, Australia said that “We are writing to you concerning the ongoing threat of pollution from Vedanta Aluminum's red mud pond in Orissa to the downstream villages of Lanjigarh, Bundel and Basanpada.”

It said that while the Odisha State Pollution Board had expressed concerns about the pond's design and maintenance during 2007 to 2009, remedial actions of the company had not been documented and there was continuing concern that a catastrophic failure could occur in the rainy season.

This and a similar letter by one Ms Helen Findlay also from Queensland, calls for stopping the expansion of the plan until additional pumping of red mud into the pond is stopped, all environmental issues are addressed and human rights fully respected.

The Vedanta spokesperson said that such letters are timed to surface just before the matter comes up for hearing in the court. After thorough investigation of the alleged overflow from the red mud pond in April 2011, the enquiry committee constituted by the Odisha State Pollution Control Board had submitted a report stating that ‘no discharge was observed from the red mud pond or water pond or any outlet of the industry to the Bansdhara River.

Source – Business Line.com