India

 Vedanta Mine Puts Indigenous Community at Risk


 

Amnesty International has released a report which reveals how an alumina refinery operated by a subsidiary of UK-based Vedanta Resources in Orissa, is causing air and water pollution that threatens the health of the local people and their access to water.

 

Opponents of the project claimed that it threatens the very existence of the local Adivasi communities and their centuries-old unique relationship with their lands.

 

In October 2010, the Indian Government rejected a proposal for an expansion of the refinery in the Lanjigarh area, finding that the project violated the country’s environmental laws.
 
A local indigenous leader told Amnesty that the decision to prevent the expansion was very welcome, but added: "however, we continue to breathe polluted air; our water sources continue to be polluted by the refinery and our health continues to suffer. We will not rest till these problems faced by us due to the refinery under operation are fully addressed."
 
UPDATE (July 2011):  Orissa high court rejects Vedanta refinery expansion
 
The High Court of Orissa has upheld the Indian government's decision made in August 2010, to reject Vedanta Aluminium's plans for the six-fold expansion of the Lanjigarh refinery, finding that the project violated the country's environmental laws.
 
Vedanta Aluminium challenged the Ministry of Environment and Forest's (MoEF) decision in the high court on November 2010. Further challenges against the MoEF decision by Sterlite India and the Orissa Mining Corporation are pending in India’s National Green Tribunal and Supreme Court. See more here.
 
 
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Download the following postcards and send them to the Indian authorities, expressing your concern about the effects of mining in the Niyamgiri Hills on the indigenous community.

 

 

 

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