Nearly 2,000 people in Zambia have won the right to sue mining company Vedanta in the English courts over pollution.
The decision of the Supreme Court in London could have implications for other companies over their activities abroad, according to the law firm representing the villagers.
The case began in 2015 when the villagers launched a case against Vedanta – which is listed in India but has a legal base in Britain – and Zambian company Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), alleging their land had been polluted.
They say the water pollution caused by Nchanga Copper Mine has affected their health and farming activities.
Nchanga Copper Mine is owned by Vedanta through its subsidiary KCM and is the second-largest in the world, according to court papers.
