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Article

1 Aug 2015

Author:
John Vidal, Guardian (UK)

Zambian villagers take mining giant Vedanta to court in UK over toxic leaks

See all tags Allegations

Leaked documents and a confidential internal report commissioned from Canadian pollution control experts show that Vedanta Resources’ giant mine in Zambia’s Copperbelt region has been spilling sulphuric acid and other toxic chemicals into rivers, streams and underground aquifers used for drinking water near the mining town of Chingola…The claims of villagers living near one of the largest copper mines in Africa are backed by a leaked letter from a KCM [a Vedanta subsidiary] doctor stating that water collected for testing from Shimulala village in 2011 was unfit for human consumption…London law firm Leigh Day has issued proceedings in the high court in London on behalf of 1,800 people who claim to have been affected by the company’s pollution…A Vedanta spokesman said: “All Vedanta’s operating subsidiaries take the health of their employees, the wellbeing of surrounding communities and the environment very seriously..."

Part of the following timelines

Zambian villagers file lawsuit against Vedanta in UK court over water contamination

Vedanta Resources lawsuit (re water contamination, Zambia)