Dongria Kandhas, a particularly vulnerable tribal group, on Sunday demanded that Niyamgiri Hill Range be declared ‘no-mining zone’ so that no attempt is made to carry out bauxite mining.
The tribal group under the banner of Niyamgiri Surakshya Samiti (NSS) held a rally at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district in support of their demand.
Addressing the gathering, National Alliance of People’s Movements adviser Medha Patkar said: “Any attempt to sidestep authority of gram sabha would be opposed. Dongria Kandhas of Niyamgiri have proved how powerful this institution is. The State government under pressure of Vedanta Group is exploring scope of mining in the Niyamgiri Hill Range which has been a sacred place for the tribals.”
Ms. Patkar said: “We will mobilise support of organisations leading mass movements in support of the declaration Niyamgiri as no-mining zone.”
Lok Shakti Abhiyan president Prafulla Samantra said though a series of gram sabhas, as per the direction of Supreme Court in 2013, clearly gave verdict against bauxite mining in Niyamgiri, the State government through the Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) had made fresh attempts for mining in the hill range. “This is illegal. The government is acting under pressure of Vedanta Group,” charged Mr. Samantra.
The NSS said as long as Vedanta Group continued to operate alumina refinery at Lanjigarh, the police would target innocent tribal youths by branding them as Naxalites to break the unity. “We demand the refinery complex of Vedanta Group at Lanjigarh, which does not have law material source and is operating in violation of environment norms, be shut down,” said Lingaraj Azad of the NSS.
Senior Congress leader Bhakta Charan Das also addressed the rally.
