BHUBANESWAR:
“The State Government’s move to handover a rich biodiversity hotspot like
Karlapat to Vedanta Company for mining would bring disaster to nature, climate
and livelihood of tribals,” said Lok Shakti Abhiyan president Prafulla
Samantara at a press meet here on Sunday.
Samantara said that a vibrant
people’s struggle would be emerged soon to protect Karlapat and Niyamgiri. “When
people are not prepared to sacrifice Niyamgiri, it is not possible to destroy
more sensitive green spot like Karlapat,” he stated.
There are 10 revenue villages and
nine un-surveyed villages within Karlapat Sanctuary. Total population of these
19 villages is 1551 and most of them are tribals of Kandha and Majhi tribe. Rain-fed
agriculture is the main source of income for these people who cultivate paddy, a
major crop, along with other cash crops. They regularly depend on forest
resources like collecting hill brooms and bamboo sticks and different minor
forest produces.
A number of perennial streams and
nalas flow across the area and feed into river Tel, a major tributary of the
river Mahanadi. High plateau and waterfalls attract
tourists to study and enjoy the nature. The vegetation of the sanctuary along
with its perennial water sources influences the microclimate of the district.
Karlapat boast for its Elephant population and serves as a crucial corridor
link between elephants in Kotagarh Sanctuary in Kandhamal district and Lakhari
valley sanctuary in Gajapati district.
The sanctuary is also a safe
habitat for wild animals including endangered species. Very important and rare
plants are growing in the area. “If the State allows Vedanta for mining in the
plateaus Khandualmali and Krishnamali of the sanctuary which are 1-3 km away
from the boundary of sanctuary, it would violate the Supreme Court’s
guidelines, which stipulate that no developmental, industrial or mining
activities would take place within 10 km of any wildlife sanctuary and National
Park,” said Samantara.
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