Vedanta Limited was mentioned as one of the industrial majors expressing strong interest in expanding its footprint in Odisha, as part of a broader industrial development initiative that includes significant investments and job creation.

During a public hearing on 15 October 2023 in Odisha’s Rayagada district for Vedanta’s proposed Sijimali bauxite mining project, allegations emerged of violence, fear, and intimidation against human rights defenders. Reports indicate that 21 individuals were arrested and the project could displace 100 families from 18 villages, adversely affecting the livelihoods of an additional 500 families.

According to an OCCRP report, Vedanta Limited conducted a covert lobbying campaign during the pandemic aimed at weakening key environmental regulations. The company pushed for scrapping public hearings for oil exploration projects and advocated for regulatory changes to boost production, reflecting a strategy that prioritizes profit over public environmental and democratic concerns.

Vedanta Limited donated Rs 155 Cr to political parties through electoral bonds in FY23, contributing to a five‐year total of Rs 457 Cr in political donations and raising significant transparency and accountability concerns regarding its support for parties with authoritarian leanings.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Vedanta covertly lobbied to weaken key environmental laws, as detailed in an OCCRP report. The company pushed for regulatory amendments to allow increased mining and oil exploration without required public consultations, including scrapping public hearings for oil projects by its subsidiary Cairn Oil & Gas.

A coalition of organizations released the report 'Vedanta’s Billions' detailing a range of legal judgments against Vedanta for environmental pollution, illegal mining, human rights abuses, and even a corporate massacre. The report also criticizes the failure of regulators like the FCA and calls for accountability, with protests planned outside the FCA headquarters.