October, 21 2010, 02:41pm EDT
Amnesty International Welcomes the Decision of the Indian Government to Reject Vedanta Refinery Expansion
WASHINGTON
Amnesty International today welcomed the Indian government's decision to reject plans for the expansion of an alumina refinery by a subsidiary of UK-based Vedanta Resources, in the state of Orissa.
"The decision is very welcome - and tremendously important for local communities, who have been fighting to prevent this expansion going ahead," said Amnesty International's Asia Pacific deputy director, Madhu Malhotra.
India's Ministry of Environment and Forests rejected a six-fold expansion of the refinery in the Lanjigarh area, proposed by Vedanta Aluminium, finding that the project violated the country's environmental laws.
"The refinery fails to meet accepted national and international standards in relation to its environmental, social and human rights impact," said Malhotra. "The authorities should order a clean-up and monitor the health status of the local communities."
Residents of 12 villages who live in the shadow of the massive refinery - mostly Majhi Kondh adivasi (indigenous) and Dalit communities who rely on agriculture for their livelihoods - have long campaigned against the expansion, arguing it would further pollute their land and water.
Kumti Majhi, a local indigenous leader, told Amnesty International, that the decision to prevent expansion was very welcome, adding that "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."
The Ministry had in August rejected plans, by Sterlite India, another Vedanta Resources' subsidiary and the state-owned Orissa Mining Corporation, to mine bauxite at Niyamgiri Hills near Lanjigarh after finding that it would violate forest and environmental laws and the rights of the Dongria Kondh adivasi communities.
Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights for all. Our supporters are outraged by human rights abuses but inspired by hope for a better world - so we work to improve human rights through campaigning and international solidarity. We have more than 2.2 million members and subscribers in more than 150 countries and regions and we coordinate this support to act for justice on a wide range of issues.
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