Protests erupt at Koida Taldih mine in Odisha over unmet promises

Escalating tensions led to clashes between protestors and security personnel on Thursday at an iron ore mine in Taldih locality under Koida block in Sundargarh district, which is currently being operated by the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) in contract with Adani Group.

The protesters claim that commitments made to those impacted by the mining activities in Taldih remain unfulfilled, a situation causing increasing discontent. The demonstration centres around at least 12 pivotal demands raised by the local community affected due to the mining operations. Allegedly, commitments earlier given to displaced people by the company authorities during a Gram Sabha have not been met yet.

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Earlier in the day, hundreds of men and women led by the Taldih unit of United Mines Mazdoor Union had congregated in front of the mine office's main gate. They were shouting slogans against the mining company authorities when the altercation erupted.

“On behalf of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), we congregated at the Taldih mines under Tensa. Several multinational companies are being given the mines on 25-year leases in the Keonjhar and Sundargarh districts. They (company authorities) have not informed us what sort of activities they will take up in this region,” Bonai MLA Laxman Munda stated.

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“We have deployed four platoons of police force keeping in mind the mass agitation and law & order situation. The locals are demanding employment, adherence to the commitments given in the Gram Sabha, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities by the company,” Rourkela Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Prabhashankar Nayak said.

No formal response from the authorities managing the Taldih iron ore mine was received. The agitation was underway at the time this report was filed.