PREPARED BY:
JYOTI VERMA
P. MRUDULA
NISHIMA GUPTA
PARNITA JAIN
SONAL MIDHA
TANYA CHAUDHARY
VARUN GREWAL
Do you regard it a serious environmental problem for the
villagers or for the company, or both? Explain your views.
Yes, the Widespread pollution by Vedanta factory caused serious
environmental problems for both villagers and the company.
TO THE VILLAGERS
Poor waste management at Vedanta's refinery in Lanjigarh, in Orissa,
is putting at risk the life of people.
People living in the shadow of a massive refinery are breathing
polluted air and drinking contaminated water from and bathe in a
river that is one of the main sources of water in the region,
People are suffering from skin and respiratory diseases due to
the contaminated water and polluted air.
There was also the fear that the proposed mine could destroy the
area's ecosystem and threaten the entire way of life of the 8,000-
strong indigenous Dongria Kondh community, who have lived
in the hills for centuries and depend on them for their crops and
water.
TO THE COMPANY
Vedanta kept carrying out its mining and refining projects
at the sacred mountain of Niyamgiri because of which it
might soon become history. There would be a great harm
to the natural resource as well as the working of the
company would be affected.
What is the worst-case scenario for the
villagers, and for the firm?
PROBLEM TO VILLAGERS
The pollution caused by the Lanjigarh project has affected more
than twenty villages in its vicinity causing widespread skin and
respiratory problems and endangering livelihoods in the hills.
More than 200,000 people were going to be affected by the
project, if allowed to go full throttle.
Whenever the pipelines carrying the wastes are choked the pipes
are cut and effluents released into the streams.
The refinery produces 500 tons of fly-ash daily along with 2,500 tons of
red-mud, all of which is supposed to be released into their respective
ponds. This caused great problems to health of the villagers.
Although the Orissa State Pollution Control Board has reported serious
concerns about water contamination and air pollution and documented
numerous failures on the part of the company to adequately manage
waste disposal from the refinery, this information has never been shared
with local people.
They have not properly assessed the potential impacts on human rights
of either project and have not set up a genuine process of consultation
with local people. Enforcement of regulations has been weak and
inconsistent, leaving people exposed to ongoing harm.
PROBLEMS TO THE ORGANIZATION
If Vedanta kept carrying out its mining and refining projects, the
sacred mountain of Niyamgiri might soon become history thus
affecting the working of the organization.
Vedanta’s is the only industrial activity in the area and it
becomes clear from the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA)
report that the air quality in the region has been affected due to
the project.
If voices of the tribes are crushed for long, they might resort to
non-violence thus affecting the social image of the company.
Vedanta Resources and its subsidiaries have failed to
take action to adequately remedy the problems. The
companies involved have failed to abide by
internationally-accepted standards in relation to the
impact of business on human rights - to provide
information, consult with people and refine plans to
ensure rights are not harmed.
WORST CASE SCENARIO FOR THE VILLAGERS
They had to lose their life and the life of their near and
dear ones.
The report that attack on the metals and mining company
claims that the owners would rob tribes people of their
ancestral home and traditional way of life.
“The Dhongria Kondh say their way of life is threatened
by the planned mine.”
WORST SCENARIO FOR THE COMPANY
If they kept carrying out their mining and refining
projects, the mountain of Niyamgiri would become extinct
thus affecting the working of the organization.
