Mumbai, Jan. 8 -- Vedanta Ltd, India's largest producer of aluminium, has a crucial few months ahead in its bid to secure raw material supplies for its most profitable business while facing legal battles and grassroots resistance. The company's ability to maintain its margins rests on operationalizing a massive new bauxite mine in Odisha while defending a supply contract in court.

The company's first bauxite mine in Odisha, which has been facing intense opposition from local residents, just received stage 1 forest clearance (FC1) on 31 December, as per government records. While the mine still requires several additional approvals, including environmental clearance (EC) and Forest Clearance Stage 2 (FC2), this approval clears the path tow...