The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has directed the Odisha government to investigate allegations of unauthorised groundwater extraction by Vedanta Ltd’s aluminium unit in Jharsuguda. The move comes amid claims that the company extracted groundwater on a large scale without obtaining the mandatory statutory approvals.
In a letter issued on August 3, the CGWB instructed the Jharsuguda district collector to constitute a joint committee to examine the allegations. The committee will include representatives from the district administration, the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), the CGWB, and other concerned government departments. It has been tasked with conducting a site inspection and submitting its findings within 15 days of the inspection.
According to the communication reviewed by Business Standard, the inquiry aims to verify whether groundwater extraction at the facility complied with applicable regulatory requirements. The investigation is expected to assess the scale of extraction and determine whether any violations of groundwater management norms have occurred.
The development places Vedanta under renewed regulatory scrutiny over its environmental compliance practices. The findings of the joint committee could influence any further action by the authorities, depending on whether evidence of unauthorised groundwater extraction is established.
The outcome of the investigation will be closely watched by regulators, environmental stakeholders, and the industry, given the growing emphasis on sustainable water management and compliance with environmental regulations.
