By Sunil Jena
Editor-in-Chief, The Politics Odia
Bhubaneswar: A fresh controversy involving Vedanta Aluminium Ltd. has triggered political and public debate in Odisha after government documents alleged illegal extraction of river water by the company’s Jharsuguda unit and imposed a penalty demand exceeding ₹234 crore.
Documents issued by the Office of the Superintending Engineer, Burla Irrigation Division, dated April 29, 2026, accused Vedanta Aluminium Ltd. of lifting water from the Kheruwal Nallah/Bheden River without permission from the Department of Water Resources and allegedly operating without a flow meter.
The official communication stated that complaints had been received from villagers and environmental groups regarding unauthorized lifting of water from the river system in Jharsuguda district. Authorities claimed a field verification was conducted following district-level discussions, after which officials concluded that illegal extraction activities were continuing.
The notice directed the company to immediately stop all unauthorized lifting of water and warned of legal action under the Orissa Irrigation Act and Rules if compliance was not ensured within one month.
Attached calculation sheets prepared by the irrigation department showed a cumulative demand of ₹2,33,11,24,926, including penalty and interest calculations for the period between May 2025 and April 2026.
The matter has gained significance because copies of the communication were also forwarded to senior water resource officials and the Jharsuguda district administration.
The controversy took a political turn after social media discussions linked the issue to recent photographs of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi wearing what some observers described as a luxury Rolex Datejust-style wristwatch during public appearances following Vedanta Chairman Anil Agarwal’s visit to Lok Seva Bhavan on May 27.
Several social media users speculated whether the watch was gifted during the meeting, although no evidence has emerged publicly to support the claim. There is also no official confirmation regarding the brand, model, or ownership of the watch visible in the photographs.
Seeking clarification, The Politics Odia formally wrote to Vedanta Aluminium and the company’s corporate communications team, requesting an official response on both the irrigation notice and the speculation surrounding the wristwatch.
In the email, the publication asked whether Vedanta or its representatives had gifted any luxury item or wristwatch to the Chief Minister during the May 27 meeting and whether such a gift, if any, had been disclosed under applicable norms and protocol.
Vedanta acknowledged receipt of the media query. In a response sent by Sonal Choithani from the company’s communications side, the matter was forwarded internally to another relevant colleague for further handling.
As of publication, Vedanta had not issued a detailed response to the allegations mentioned in the irrigation notice or the questions related to the watch speculation.
The developments come at a politically sensitive time in Odisha, where the BJP government has repeatedly projected transparency and anti-corruption governance as central themes of its administration.
Opposition leaders and social media commentators have already begun demanding clarity from both the government and the company, while supporters of the ruling establishment have dismissed the speculation as politically motivated.
At present, the authenticity, ownership, and value of the watch seen in photographs remain unverified independently. However, the irrigation notice and the subsequent public debate have intensified scrutiny around the relationship between big industry and political power in Odisha.
