BHAWANIPATNA: The tribals of
Niyamgiri hill on Monday unanimously rejected the beleaguered proposal of
bauxite mining in the seventh Palli Sabha held at Phuldumer village in
Kalahandi district. The vote of the Dongrias, Kutias and Jharnia tribes against
mining in the hill was a major jolt to the Vedanta Company which had aimed to
get mines from the Niyamgiri hill to run its bauxite starved Aluminium plant at
Lanjigarh in the district.
Out of the total 68 voters, 49
voters participated in the meeting. Out of the total voters participated in the
meeting, 10 tribals aired their voice at the Palli Sabha where a resolution was
passed against mining.
“Niyamgiri is everything for us; we
can’t leave it at any cost. We will fight with the company or whoever comes for
mining in the hill,” said a Dongria woman of Phuldumer village.
Additional District Judge
(Vigilance) of Kalahandi Pramod Kumar Jena, who was appointed by the Supreme
Court as the observer for the Palli Sabha, was present during the whole
deliberation. Jena said that the tribals strongly denied mining in the hill. “The
tribals said that Niyamgiri is their father, mother and god for them. They
can’t leave it to anyone,” said Jena.
Though the tribals had already
denied in a loud voice against mining in the previous six Palli Sabhas held in
Rayagada and Kalahandi districts, the company and the State Government were
waiting for any lapse from the tribal sides, but it could not be materialised
as the tribals continued their spirit and echo to say a big ‘no’ to the mining
in the area.
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