Jharsuguda, Odisha: Growing Vedanta public discontent Jharsuguda continues to dominate local discussions as residents of Bhurkamunda village voice serious concerns over the company’s impact on their environment and daily lives. Since Vedanta Alumina’s establishment in Jharsuguda, controversies and public frustration have persisted.
While the company occasionally supports local employment for youth and women, recurring issues such as traffic congestion from heavy vehicles, ash pond collapses, and widespread air pollution have created deep resentment among villagers. Locals allege that despite repeated assurances, Vedanta has yet to provide a permanent solution to these ongoing problems.
Residents of Bhurkamunda village under Katikela Gram Panchayat expressed their anger to the media during a visit to the District Magistrate’s Greivance cell.
According to their statement, the arrival of Vedanta once brought hopes of development and better livelihood opportunities. However, those hopes have now turned into dissatisfaction due to the company’s alleged negligence and lack of accountability.
Villagers revealed that nearly 90 percent of Bhurkamunda’s land now belongs to Vedanta, while the remaining 10 percent has become unfit for cultivation due to pollution. Students studying near the factory fence are reportedly facing difficulties from continuous noise pollution, leading many to avoid school.
Despite multiple complaints to district authorities and the Collector, locals claim that Vedanta has failed to implement effective measures to address their concerns. Frustrated by years of inaction, the villagers have now warned that if immediate and lasting solutions are not provided, they will launch a mass protest in the coming days.
The ongoing Vedanta public discontent Jharsuguda highlights the growing tension between industrial expansion and community well-being a conflict that demands urgent attention from both corporate and administrative bodies.
