5 days ago
Odisha Government Scrutinizes Vedanta’s Jharsuguda Water Use
The Odisha government is checking how Vedanta’s aluminium plant in Jharsuguda obtained and used water.
Officials want records going back to the plant’s construction.
An activist says the company used groundwater from borewells without the required permissions.
The complaint says the plant relied on groundwater from 2005 to 2013.
A government groundwater agency has asked for a joint investigation.
Odisha earlier demanded about ₹233.11 crore from Vedanta over alleged unauthorised water extraction.
Vedanta has challenged the assumptions behind that demand.
The National Green Tribunal is also seeking answers about alleged river-water extraction and untreated wastewater.
Odisha’s water resources department is seeking Vedanta’s complete water-source and drawal history.
Officials requested records on water used during plant construction, agreements, pipelines and charges.
An activist alleges Vedanta used borewells without required groundwater approvals, agreements or flow meters.
The Central Ground Water Board has sought a joint committee investigation into the allegations.
Vedanta faces a ₹233.11 crore demand and National Green Tribunal scrutiny over alleged water extraction and effluent discharge.
- Who
- Vedanta’s Odisha operations, the Odisha government, the Central Ground Water Board and an environmental activist are involved.
- What
- Authorities are investigating alleged unauthorised groundwater and river-water extraction by Vedanta’s Jharsuguda aluminium plant.
- Where
- Jharsuguda district and the Bheden river system in Odisha, including water linked to the Hirakud reservoir.
- When
- The review covers the plant’s construction and commissioning period from 2005 to 2013; an official records request was issued on August 21, and related proceedings occurred over the preceding three months.
- Why
- The investigation follows allegations that Vedanta used groundwater without required approvals and examines its water sources, drawal records, charges and environmental compliance.
Regulatory and activist allegations
Vedanta’s response and position
Groundwater approvals
Regulatory and activist allegations
Satyanarayan Rao’s complaint alleges that Vedanta operated numerous borewells without mandatory groundwater clearances, water-drawal agreements or digital flow meters.
Vedanta’s response and position
Vedanta had not responded to a request for comment by publication time, so the company’s position on the groundwater allegations was not reported.
Water-use demand
Regulatory and activist allegations
The Odisha government issued a demand of approximately ₹233.11 crore, including water charges, interest and a six-times penalty, for alleged unauthorised extraction from the Bheden river system.
Vedanta’s response and position
Vedanta contested the demand and said the assumptions behind it were incorrect.
Environmental compliance
Regulatory and activist allegations
The National Green Tribunal sought responses over alleged illegal river-water extraction and discharge of untreated industrial effluents.
Vedanta’s response and position
The available reports do not provide Vedanta’s substantive response to the tribunal-related allegations.
Key facts
- Company
- Vedanta Limited’s aluminium operations in Jharsuguda, Odisha
- Reviewing department
- Odisha Water Resources Department
- Records requested
- Water sources, quantities drawn, pipeline and scheme approvals, agreements, charges and pollution-control consent orders
- Alleged groundwater period
- 2005–2013, according to the complaint
- Demand notice
- Approximately ₹233.11 crore for alleged unauthorised extraction from the Bheden river system
- Investigation request
- The Central Ground Water Board asked Odisha to form a joint committee
- Tribunal proceedings
- The National Green Tribunal sought responses concerning alleged river-water extraction and untreated industrial effluent discharge
Quotes
Bijay Kumar Sethy
Chief engineer of Odisha’s water resources department
“Specify the exact period when M/s Vedanta Aluminium Ltd laid the pipeline from Hirakud reservoir after allocation and submit an approved copy of the scheme of drawal, apart from the copies of all agreements and temporary agreements executed since the inception of the industry,”
rediff.com
“Vedanta relied entirely on groundwater during the construction and commissioning of its Jharsuguda plant between 2005 and 2013 because the pipeline from the Hirakud reservoir became operational only in 2013.”
rediff.com
Sources
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