The Khandadhar watershed and forests, which hold […] ", 27 October 2015 (Last Updated October 27th, 2015 18:30). The Orissa government’s agreement with Vedanta Alumina to allow mining of bauxite deposits in the Niyamgiri hills, the home of the Dongaria Kondha tribe, is an example of how corporate interests backed by state support are trampling on tribal livelihoods and … The government insists on concrete houses. Niyamgiri hills are home to about 8,000 Dongaria Kondh tribes living in … Unanimous rejection was recorded in July and August 2013. Young community leader Drenzoo at the Niyamraja festival. Subsequently, the state held meetings in 12 villages to discuss the environmental and religious issues, and the rights of the tribes. To enable wide dissemination of news that is in public interest, we have increased the number of articles that can be read free, and extended free trial periods. The company is planning to mine The Supreme Court of India asked in April 2013 for public consultations in villages and hamlets in the Niyamgiri hills. But when the Supreme Court ruling, in April 2013, said that the village councils should decide whether the state-owned mining corporation could mine the hills for the bauxite or not, all the village councils voted against the mining process. The Environment and Forest ministry of Government of India scrapped a forest clearance given to a mining firm, Vedanta Resources, to mine bauxite in the area and the mining project was scrapped. The Dongria tribe of Eastern India has been under intense pressure from the state government as well as Vedanta, a London based mining company, to make way for Bauxite mining.The Dongria tribe and the Niyamgiri Hills For many Today, he is distraught. Now, the state government has to seek permission from the apex court to start the process again. Odisha is seeking to revive a controversial plan to mine for bauxite in the Niyamgiri hills, a lushly forested area that the Dongria Kondh tribe considers sacred, a minister said on Wednesday. But we don’t want forests razed to the ground for a wide road. It wants to dominate the discourse of development in the region and muzzle local voices,” said Lingaraj Azad, convenor of Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti (NSS), which has been spearheading agitation against mining in Niyamgiri. Bhubaneswar: South Korean steel behemoth Posco’s mining prospects in Kandadhar hills of Sundergarh district may face the same fate as Niyamgiri Hills, given the Environment Ministry’s January direction in the latter’s case rejecting Vedanta’s bauxite extraction plan and endorsing forest rights of tribals following a Gram Sabha verdict. The hills reportedly contain 80 million tonnes of bauxite, much of it in a mountain that local Kondh tribes (Dongria and Kutia) worship as their deity, Niyam Raja. “What we are hearing from other activists is that the Supreme Court order has presented a golden opportunity for the government to reject applications regarding individual forest rights, community forest rights and habitat rights and wrest control of Niyamgiri. The Dongria tribe and the Niyamgiri Hills For many centuries, the highly endangered Dongria tribe have inhabited the hills that contain an estimated $2 billion worth of bauxite deposits (Bennett, 2014). A solid waste product ‘red mud’ which is an environmental and health hazard is produced during … I hope the programme continues,” said Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar, until recently the collector of Rayagada. The fabric for the shawl is a handwoven cloth made by Dalit families. Metal News - Published on Tue, 05 Apr 2016. There are four government health centres in Trilochanpur, Muniguda and Bissamcuttack, to reach which the Dongrias have to trek three hours. mining bauxite in the Niyamgiri hills. July 25, 2013 3:10 am. Explore more for Niyamgiri hills breaking news, opinions, special reports and more on mint. 08 Dec 2020. Mines expert and former director of mines with Odisha government B K Mohanty was quoted by Business Standard as saying: "The gram sabhas for Niyamgiri bauxite mining were conducted as per the directions of the Supreme Court. As a subscriber, you are not only a beneficiary of our work but also its enabler. As per official records on regularisation of titles under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006, only 252 applications were not approved in Kutia Kondh Development Agency, Lanjigarh jurisdiction. “The government is offering us a 30 ft road under the pretext that it will be useful during a health emergency. mining bauxite in the Niyamgiri hills. Earlier in 2013, the State government had attempted bauxite mining at Niyamgiri to feed the Vedanta’s refinery established close to the hills. This conflict has been a well-known case in the mineral-rich state of Odisha in India, involving some of the world’s oldest surviving indigenous peoples. However, the decision offered the tribe only a temporary reprieve, as the court ordered the company's Indian unit, Sterlite Industries,10 to come back with a new proposal for the project. You have reached your limit for free articles this month. The Dongria tribe and the Niyamgiri Hills For many centuries, the highly endangered Dongria tribe have inhabited the hills that contain an estimated $2 billion worth of bauxite deposits (Bennett, 2014). Activists estimated that this would destroy 1,660 acres of pristine forest, plus pollute the air, the soil and critical water resources. The Niyamgiri is a hill range situated in the districts of Kalahandi and Rayagada in the south-west of Odisha, India.These hills are home to Dongria Kondh indigenous people.The hills have one of India's most pristine forests in the interior. Nobody exemplifies this deep divide better than Lada Sikaka, NSS president and once an important voice of the Dongrias. ", Custom Designed and Built Underground Mining and Tunnelling Equipment, Heavy-Duty Mechanical Equipment for Mines, Dust Control and Mine Water Solutions for Mining Applications, "The state government has to seek permission from the apex court to start the process again. And red is the colour of blood, energy, power, revenge, aggression,” said Purusottam Pattanaik, a researcher with SC & ST Research and Training Institute. *Our Digital Subscription plans do not currently include the e-paper, crossword and print. The bauxite-capped Niyamgiri hills soak up the monsoon’s rain, giving rise to more than a hundred perennial streams and rivers, including the Vamshadhara river. The NSS sees a larger conspiracy. The struggle has been on since October 2004, when the government-owned Odisha State Mining Company (OMC) signed an agreement with UK-based Vedanta Resources to mine over 70 million tons of bauxite in the Niyamgiri hills. pressure from the state government as well as Vedanta, a London based mining company, to make way for Bauxite mining. We brief you on the latest and most important developments, three times a day. The embroidery involves some very intricate needlework, and the shawl has a special place in Dongria tradition. mining bauxite in the Niyamgiri hills. The topography of the area made it impossible to reach each village. Mining bauxite and processing it into aluminium is deadly to the environment. Niyamgiri Hills contains 72 million tonnes of bauxite, which the firm intended to mine to feed its alumina refinery plant at Lanjigarh, Odisha. In 2010, the Union Environment Ministry originally rejected Vedanta’s proposal to mine bauxite from the area. The company formed a joint venture with the state-owned Odisha Mining Corporation to develop the Niyamgiri mine, under a memorandum of understanding. Explore more for Niyamgiri hills breaking news, opinions, special reports and more on mint. What united them were their indigenous roots and a long history of struggle. The court has also provided an escape clause for the mining giants, by setting up a special purpose But no government official turned up. The struggle has been on since October 2004, when the government-owned Odisha State Mining Company (OMC) signed an agreement with UK-based Vedanta Resources to mine over 70 million tons of bauxite in the Niyamgiri hills. At this difficult time, it becomes even more important that we have access to information that has a bearing on our health and well-being, our lives, and livelihoods. We should stay connected. The company planned to mine the Niyamgiri hill range, which is believed to be the home of deity Niyam Rajawhich, who is worshipped by the local Dongria Kondh tribe. The plan was to develop a bauxite mine in Niyamgiri hills and supply the material to Vedanta’s alumina refinery. How do they identify the beneficiaries? We also reiterate here the promise that our team of reporters, copy editors, fact-checkers, designers, and photographers will deliver quality journalism that stays away from vested interest and political propaganda. It wanted to mine bauxite — the primary raw material for aluminium — from the Niyamgiri hills for Vedanta Aluminium’s 1 million-tonne-per-annum (mtpa) alumina refinery in neighbouring Lanjigarh, which had been operational since 2007. The state government-owned Odisha Mining Corporation was supposed to provide the bauxite extracted from the Niyamgiri hills to the Vedanta refinery. Efforts were made to propagate the Kui language in 30 centres. Biswaranjan Rout. This conflict has been a well-known case in the mineral-rich state of Odisha in India, involving some of the world’s oldest surviving indigenous peoples. Jakasika agreed. “The government has not forgotten its defeat by a tribal group. 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In what is perhaps India’s first environmental referendum, all 12 villages selected by the government voted against the project. The villages’ decision followed a landmark Supreme Court verdict on April 18, 2013. The OMC holds a claim over the deposit with a letter of intent towards a mining lease from the state government. The embroidery on a shawl can take months to complete. The Dongrias have largely stayed secluded. Resolute Mining’s Syama gold mine workers launch strike. In the rush to acquire mining rights, stringent environmental … Subscribe to The Hindu now and get unlimited access. Read Breaking News, opinion, analysis on bauxite mining in niyamgiri hill updated and published at Down To Earth. The report also recommended th… A small group of indigenous filmmakers and tribal communities exchanged notes and drew inspiration from each other at the festival. They are suspected of being ‘sympathetic’ to Maoists in the area. Your support for our journalism is invaluable. But, like all well-meaning projects that find little resonance on ground, they could not lift the literacy rate, an abysmal 33% among a population of 11,551. Court cases and local opposition did not deter the company. India has rejected Vedanta Resources' proposed bauxite mining plan for the Niyamgiri Hills in Odisha state. I believe this is going to be tough. The Niyamgiri Hills form a mountain range in the Eastern Indian state of Orissa. Dongria women love ornaments, hair accessories and flowers. Get the latest Niyamgiri hills news, videos and headlines. However, the state government will find it difficult to relaunch the gram sabha meetings on this issue. Vedanta planned open pit mining to a depth of 13.6 meters, crushing the bauxite, and transporting it to the refinery at the bottom of the hill via conveyor belt. A woman in traditional attire The recent report in a section of media about bauxite mining in Niyamgiri hill is just misinterpretation of the facts and far from the truth,” Dr Mukesh Kumar, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of VAL, told “The ET”. Dr Kumar said VAL was waiting for necessary clearances from … Resolute Mining’s Syama gold mine workers launch strike; Coronavirus company news summary – Syama workers strike over Covid-19 policy – China’s aluminium and alloy imports reach 1.74Mt – Ningbo Lygend restart construction in Indonesia; Most Recent. The state-owned Odisha Mining Corporation was supposed to provide the bauxite extract, obtained from the Niyamgiri hills, to the Vedanta refinery. | Photo Credit: In 2013, the Supreme Court of India asked the tribal people to take the decision, in which BMP was rejected in all village council meetings. Two years ago, when the tribal people of Odisha’s thickly forested Niyamgiri hills unanimously rejected the plans of the London-based conglomerate Vedanta Resources to mine bauxite in their lands, it appeared that a decade-long struggle to protect the hills and forests – and the tribal way of life – had finally succeeded. BiswaranjanRout. Mining bauxite and processing it into aluminium is deadly to the environment. Though the administration has promised to review all applications, confusion prevails in the community. Bauxite, which they were planning to mine atop Niyamgiri hills, serves as a raw material of alumina. You can support quality journalism by turning off ad blocker or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to The Hindu. Company: Orissa Mining Corporation (for Vedanta) Reserves: … Odisha is seeking to revive a controversial plan to mine for bauxite in the Niyamgiri hills, a lushly forested area that the Dongria Kondh tribe considers sacred, a minister said on Wednesday. NSS is a collective of tribes that has been opposing bauxite mining by Vedanta in Niyamgiri hills since 2003. The community said there are barely any schools or anganwadis in the 100-odd hamlets scattered across the Niyamgiri slopes, though the government claims otherwise. The struggle has been on since October 2004, when the government-owned Odisha State Mining Company (OMC) signed an agreement with UK-based Vedanta Resources to mine over 70 million tons of bauxite in the Niyamgiri hills. Then, on April 18, 2013, the Supreme Court gave a clear direction that mining clearance can only be given if gram sabhas, comprising Dongrias, agreed to the project. Dongria Kondhs also feel persecuted by security forces. The Stateowned Odisha Mining Company (OMC) had sought permission to mine bauxite in the Niyamgiri hills and supply it to Vedantas alumina refinery. Members of each village gathered and a charter of demands was finalised. Jamu Gauda, another villager, faced similar police action. Niyamgiri. Bauxite is the raw material for alumina and aluminum, and Odisha has 700 million tonnes of known bauxite reserves, of which 88 million tonnes are estimated to be found in Niyamgiri. Bhubaneswar: South Korean steel behemoth Posco’s mining prospects in Kandadhar hills of Sundergarh district may face the same fate as Niyamgiri Hills, given the Environment Ministry’s January direction in the latter’s case rejecting Vedanta’s bauxite extraction plan and endorsing forest rights of tribals following a Gram Sabha verdict. At the annual festival, Dongria Kondhs resolved not to yield an inch if the government resorts to forced eviction. “Crèches were opened in partnership with non-government organisations. Where will we grow pineapples, banana, oranges, turmeric, cereals and pulses? They have no idea how many of our people live in the forest,” said Dadhi Pushika, a Dongria elder. A solid waste product ‘red mud’ which is an environmental and health hazard is produced during the refining process and is not easy to dispose. In the rush to acquire mining rights, stringent environmental laws were violated, and the Dongria’s consent was not sought. It is bound by Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary on the north-west side and Kotgarh Wildlife Sanctuary on the north-east end. The State government’s first attempt at development in this region was in the 80s when it came up with three micro-projects: two Dongria Kondh Development Agencies, in Chatikona and Parsali, and the Kutia Kondh Development Agency. | Photo Credit: Now, the state government is again making a fresh attempt to mine the ecologically fragile hill as its OMC is still the leaseholder. However, the decision offered the tribe only a temporary reprieve, as the court ordered the company’s Indian unit, Sterlite Industries,10 to come back with a new proposal for the project. The film festival, which travelled from Bhubaneswar to Puri and ended in Kurli, a Dongria Kondh village in Rayagada district, showcased the anguish and struggle of indigenous communities in India and around the world. Bauxite is the raw material for alumina and aluminum, and Odisha has 700 million tonnes of known bauxite reserves, of which 88 million tonnes are estimated to be found in Niyamgiri. Get latest news on bauxite mining in niyamgiri hill. The company planned to mine the Niyamgiri hill range, which is believed to be the home of deity Niyam Rajawhich, who is worshipped by the local Dongria Kondh tribe. A select list of articles that match your interests and tastes. Find mobile-friendly version of articles from the day's newspaper in one easy-to-read list. NSS is a collective of tribes that has been opposing bauxite mining by Vedanta in Niyamgiri hills since 2003. Move smoothly between articles as our pages load instantly. We will fight together,” said Shinta. Where will we go? Activists say the Dongria’s opposition to mining has led to them being perceived as a ‘roadblock’ to development in a region known for grinding poverty and starvation deaths. Indian state Odisha is planning to revive Vedanta Resources' bauxite mining project on top of the Niyamgiri Hills, a forested area that the local Dongria Kondh tribe considers sacred. Our people live in the Niyamgiri hills of Odisha ’ s proposal to mine the ecologically fragile hill its!, under a memorandum of understanding important voice of the Dongrias got temporary relief when the Supreme of... Said Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar, until recently the collector of Rayagada the Odisha. 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