Anil Agarwal - Chairman of Vedanta Resources
h2. Power and influence
With increasing wealth has come increasing power. Mr Agarwal donated considerable sums to the two biggest political parties in India.
The advisory committee of "India’s Supreme Court":https://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=1554 has stated that the way in which Vedanta’s Lanjigarh refinery secured environmental clearance ‘smacks of undue favour/leniency’. A top panel of experts put together by India’s Environment Minister has described the ‘appalling degree of collusion’ of local officials with Vedanta’s ‘total contempt for the law’.
"Norway’s Council on Ethics":https://www.regjeringen.no/upload/FIN/Statens%20pensjonsfond/Recommendation_Vedanta.pdf details how Vedanta and Mr Agarwal have been accused of ‘corruption, fraud, forgery, manipulation of share prices, and insider trading.’
h2. Agarwal’s empire
Mr Agarwal’s empire – Vedanta Resources – now spans four continents, with offices in London and operations in Zambia, Australia and India.
He owns more than 50% of the shares in the company, earning him a place among the richest thirty people in Britain.
Vedanta Resources was "criticised by the UK government":/news/4980 for not having a human rights policy. The government said 'a change in the company's behaviour' is 'essential'.
h2. Behind the Lies
Due to the mounting tribal protests and international criticism of their actions in Orissa, India, Vedanta initiated a PR offensive extolling their virtues. But this short film reveals how easily their lies and manipulations can be debunked.
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h2. Anil Agarwal on mining in the Dongria Kondh’s land The Indian government has now put a stop to Mr Agarwal’s mine on the Dongria’s land, by refusing to issue the necessary clearance. At Vedanta’s 2008 AGM, Mr Agarwal said, ‘I can only promise that we will only start work if we have the complete permission of the Court and the people.’ In January 2009, Mr Agarwal said that mining would begin ‘in a month or two’. In August 2010, Mr Agarwal said, ‘We are law abiding people. We will not start mining at all until and unless we get 100% clearance from the authorities concerned.’h2. From the web
"*Vedanta's website*":https://www.vedantaresources.com/
"*Sterlite Industries' website*":https://www.sterlite-industries.com/index1.asp
"*The Guardian, UK - 'Vedanta's Indian mine under threat'*":https://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/aug/16/vedanta-indian-mining-project-under-threat
h2. From Survival's website
"*Film: _Mine - Story of a Sacred Mountain_*":/films/mine
"*'Behind the lies': Vedanta's PR offensive*":/behindthelies
"*7,000 march against British mining company Vedanta*":/news/4105
"*'Progress can kill' campaign*":/campaigns/progresscankill
h2. Anil Agarwal on mining in the Dongria Kondh’s land The Indian government has now put a stop to Mr Agarwal’s mine on the Dongria’s land, by refusing to issue the necessary clearance. At Vedanta’s 2008 AGM, Mr Agarwal said, ‘I can only promise that we will only start work if we have the complete permission of the Court and the people.’ In January 2009, Mr Agarwal said that mining would begin ‘in a month or two’. In August 2010, Mr Agarwal said, ‘We are law abiding people. We will not start mining at all until and unless we get 100% clearance from the authorities concerned.’h2. From the web
"*Vedanta's website*":https://www.vedantaresources.com/
"*Sterlite Industries' website*":https://www.sterlite-industries.com/index1.asp
"*The Guardian, UK - 'Vedanta's Indian mine under threat'*":https://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/aug/16/vedanta-indian-mining-project-under-threat
h2. From Survival's website
"*Film: _Mine - Story of a Sacred Mountain_*":/films/mine
"*'Behind the lies': Vedanta's PR offensive*":/behindthelies
"*7,000 march against British mining company Vedanta*":/news/4105
"*'Progress can kill' campaign*":/campaigns/progresscankill
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