Vedanta Aluminium has been instructed to pay ₹233.11 crore (roughly $28 million USD) for unauthorized extraction of water from the Bheden river in Jharsuguda district, Odisha. The company reportedly extracted 103,680 cubic meters of surface water daily from May 1, 2025, to April 29, 2026, without the necessary permissions. The total amount includes base water charges, a six-time penalty for late payment, and a 2% monthly interest, which led to a significant accumulation of dues from an initial amount of approximately ₹2.74 crore in May 2025. The Burla irrigation division has mandated that Vedanta comply with the payment within one month, warning that failure to do so will result in strict legal action as per the Orissa Irrigation Act and Rules of 1959 & 1961. Local villagers and environmental organizations have raised alarms about the ecological consequences of such large-scale water extraction, emphasizing the need for responsible management of water resources.