A subsidiary of  controversy-dogged UK mining company Vedanta Resources has suffered not just one – but two – serious setbacks in its attempts to portray itself as “accident free”. On Tuesday 15 May, Vedanta Aluminium Ltd (VAL) was to receive the prestigious Silver Award from the UK’s Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) at a ceremony in Birmingham, Britain’s second largest city. This was based on claims, made by VAL to RoSPA, that no-one had been seriously injured at its Lanjigarh bauxite refinery in Orissa during the last reporting period. But, in fact, a VAL employee died in a fire at the Lanjigarh site last month, and several others were injured. Now, in response to vociferous criticisms by activists in India and the UK, including colleagues in London Mining Network, RoSPA has withheld the award, pending further investigation of the company’s safety record. The British Safety Council (BSC) has also suspended making a similar award to VAL at a gala banquet to be held in London last Friday.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11702.

A Third Strike finds Anil Agarwal “Out”: London Calling on new humiliation of Vedanta boss

Yet again, London-listed Vedanta Resources, and its head honcho Anil Agarwal, have fallen foul of international standards. Last week, its VAL subsidiary in Orissa had prestigious awards withdrawn – almost at the last minute – by two UK safety watchdogs. Now we learn that two global industry organisations also pulled their nomination of Mr Agarwal on learning about his company’s sullied record – this time as a “leader” in promoting “business ethics”.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11714.

The decision seems effectively to put the highly-controversial Nyamgiri mine project on indefinite hold.

However, while clearly describing the ruses employed by Vedanta to get both projects officially approved, a regional peoples’ organisation issues a stark warning: “..Vedanta might try all other tricks to accomplish its dirty agenda…[It] might find a back door [by coming] up with a joint venture project with L&T to mine Kutru Mali and Silji Mali near Kashipur to feed its Lanjigarh plant…”

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11646.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11462&l=1.

See http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-19/bhubaneswar/30642318_1_review-petition-vedanta-aluminum-alumina-refinery.

Now, a civil society organization (Odisha Water Initiatives – OWI) which pledges to protect water supplies for the people of Orissa (Odisha), provided evidence of numerous instances where the company illegally extracted water from rivers and reservoirs.

But, even when fined for these violations, the company failed to pay the penalties – now amounting to some US$2 million.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11395.

The Cuttack bench of the Orissa High Court backed the environment ministry and ordered that Vedanta would have to apply afresh for a clearance for expansion if it wants to.

See http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-17/india/30168402_1_bauxite-mining-project-environment-clearance-vedanta.

The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Vedanta to respond.  Its response is available on the Business and Human Rights website.

Amnesty International then issued a follow-up statement.

See http://www.business-humanrights.org/media/documents/amnesty-rejoinder-vedanta-aug-2011.doc.

photo: Kerima Mohideen

Vedanta bosses clash with protesters over pollution and human rights

Anger erupted inside and outside Vedanta’s annual meeting on Wednesday as campaigners protested against the mining company’s environmental and human rights record. The London Mining Network says Vedanta’s record has not markedly improved, with 26 fatalities at its mines reported last year and a waste dump in Goa overflowing this month. “As a result, millions of tonnes of mud and silt flooded into the [Goan] village of Mulgao, swamping farmland, choking rivers and threatening people’s livelihoods,” said an LMN spokesman. Vedanta has offered to compensate farmers.

See http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/jul/27/vedanta-protests-annual-meeting-pollution-human-rights?INTCMP=SRCH.

Vedanta faces angry protesters at AGM

India-focused miner Vedanta faced two hours of angry questioning on Wednesday, as its board was forced to defend the company against accusations from investors and pressure groups that it has repeatedly breached health and environmental rules. Pressure groups including Survival International, Amnesty International and others have long opposed a projected bauxite mine in India’s Orissa state, planned for an area considered sacred by indigenous people, as well as proposals to increase capacity at Vedanta’s Lanjigarh alumina refinery to 6 million tonnes per year from 1 million.

See http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL6E7IR2E220110727.

Protesters demand action against Vedanta

Shareholders of Vedanta Resources, a FTSE 100 company that has been embroiled in a row over its activities in India, were on Tuesday booed by protesters gathered outside the venue of its Annual General Meeting in Westminster. They called for its expulsion from India and an investigation into its trade practices and human rights record.

See http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2300115.ece

Read notes of the AGM from an eye witness.

photo: Kerima Mohideen

photo: Kerima Mohideen

See http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/vedanta-may-apply-afresh-for-green-nod/443543/.

Ongoing attempts by UK-based mining company Vedanta Resources to overturn an Indian government decision blocking a proposed bauxite mine and expansion of an alumina refinery in Orissa should not be allowed to succeed, new report by Amnesty International says.

The report, Generalisations, Omissions, Assumptions, reveals that the company has failed to adequately consider the human impact of its proposed projects with an investment of US$ 1,7 billion in Orissa.

See http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/india-vedanta-orissa-projects-ban-must-be-upheld-2011-07-24.

Vedanta Aluminium challenged the Ministry of Environment and Forest’s decision in the high court on November 2010.

See http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/orissa-high-court-rejects-vedanta-refinery-expansion-2011-07-19.

See also: Court rejects Vedanta plea for alumina refinery expansion, http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=108901.

Andhra Pradesh government has decided to approach the Centre with regard to the pollution of river Vamsadhara in Srikakulam district due to effluents from Vedanta aluminium factory in the neighbouring Orissa.

See http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_andhra-pradesh-govt-to-approach-centre-over-pollution-due-to-vedanta-plant_1561248.

See http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/india-toxic-sludge-leak-vedantas-red-mud-pond-threatens-rural-communities-2011-06-0

See also urgent action at http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA20/021/2011/en/0e3a63c4-60b0-46a6-99dc-eabfb487b0d9/asa200212011en.html.

The Norwegian government seemed to have got it right when it dumped its holding in  London-listed Vedanta in 2007, effectively damning the company as a “serial offender”. In late 2010 the company was found guilty of polluting a river in Zambia, just four years after it did almost exactly the same thing. Then, last week – and only a month after toxic wastes cascaded from a breach in its red mud pond at the Lanjigarh alumina refinery in Orissa – there’s been another, virtually copycat spill.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/10928.

See also video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_s6HhDAuAY.

See video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwicLF7s1tE.