Odisha slaps penalty on Vedanta over illegal river water extraction in Jharsuguda

Bhubaneswar, May 1: The Odisha government has imposed a penalty on Vedanta Aluminium Limited’s Jharsuguda plant for allegedly extracting river water without authorization from the Bheden River, bringing the company under regulatory scrutiny over violations of state irrigation laws.

The state’s Department of Water Resources has directed the company to immediately stop all unauthorized water lifting activities from the Kheruwal creek of the Bheden River, warning that continued violations could invite strict legal action under the Orissa Irrigation Act and Rules, 1959 and 1961.

According to an official notice issued by the Superintending Engineer of the Burla Irrigation Division, the penalty was imposed after a departmental inquiry found prima facie evidence of illegal water extraction by the company without obtaining permission from the department and without installing a mandatory flow meter.

The notice stated that a demand has been raised against the company for unauthorized water usage, which must be complied with within one month. Failure to do so will result in further legal proceedings.

Officials said the inquiry was launched following complaints from local residents regarding alleged illegal lifting of river water by the company. A field verification was later carried out as per the decision taken during the District Level Revenue Review Meeting in Jharsuguda.

“The field visit clearly established that the company is continuing illegal water lifting from the river without proper authorization,” department officials said.

Authorities noted that such unauthorized extraction adversely impacts the rights and water resources of local communities dependent on the river.

The department cited violations under the Orissa Irrigation Act and Rules, 1959 and 1961, along with the 2010 amendment, calling the matter a serious breach of water governance norms.

Vedanta Aluminium, one of India’s largest aluminium producers with operations in Odisha and Chhattisgarh, has declined to comment in detail on the issue.

A company official said only that, “The company has taken up the matter with the State Government authorities.”

The development has sparked concerns over industrial use of natural resources and its impact on local water availability in mineral-rich western Odisha.