Odisha move on Niyamgiri hills triggers controversy

UPA govt at Centre had denied clearance for project

The Odisha government’s fresh attempt to revive the controversial bauxite mining project in the eco-sensitive Niyamgiri hills in Kalahandi district has triggered a row with the local tribals threatening to renew their agitation.

The state government had recently moved the Supreme Court on the issue. Congress, the principal Opposition party in the state which had extended it’s full support to the local tribals’ earlier successful agitation has also warned of a fresh protest if the state government did not withdraw it’s application in the apex court to revive the project.

The state-run Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) wanted to implement the bauxite mining project in Niyamgiri hills a few years ago to make available raw materials for private sector Vedanta group’s alumina refinery located at Lanjigarh in the foothills of Niyamgiri in Kalahandi district.

However, the then UPA government in New Delhi had denied the environmental clearance for the project. This had prompted the OMC to move Supreme Court which had ordered in April, 2013 that the gram sabhas or the village council meetings can take a final call on the future of the mining project.

As per the apex court’s directive gram sabhas were held in July and August, 2013 in 12 villages in two districts of Kalahandi and Rayagara under the supervision of a district judge. In all the 12 meetings the local Danagaria Kondh tribal villagers had vehemently opposed the project and had refused to give their consent.

The project was almost shelved after the Union environment ministry issued it’s final notification in January, 2014 denying permission for the mining activities in the eco- sensitive hills on the basis of the rejection of the project by the local gram sabhas.

However, last month the OMC had once again moved Supreme Court to revive the project. In it’s interlocutory application, the state-run corporation reportedly argued that the gram sabhas were not properly conducted.

 While hearing the case last Friday, a two member bench of the apex court recommended to the chief justice to constitute a three member jury to hear OMC’s application.