Vedanta Resources...today defended its environmental and human rights record, insisting its work has had a positive impact on the lives of 2.5 million villagers in India and Zambia....A UK government agency recently ruled that Vedanta "did not respect the rights" of Orissa's indigenous people, "did not consider the impact of the construction of the mine on the [tribe's] rights" and "failed to put in place an adequate and timely consultation mechanism"...However, Vedanta insisted today that it is "working closely" with the Dongria Kondh development agency "for the social-economic development of indigenous people".