London court hears Vedanta's challenge to Zambian villagers' pollution claim

London's Court of Appeal began hearing legal arguments on Wednesday into whether Zambian villagers have the right to make a claim for damages for environmental pollution in the English courts against miners Vedanta Resources and its Zambian subsidiary Konkola Copper Mines (KCM). The companies are appealing against a ruling in May last year when a High Court judge decided the claim could proceed in the English courts on behalf of 1 826 Zambian villagers.