Amid a vehement protest by locals against the mining of Bauxite from Sijimali, a public hearing by the Odisha State Pollution Control Board scheduled to be held at Sunger village under Kashipur tehsil in Rayagada district on Monday had to be cancelled.
The residents of eight villages of two Panchayats have been opposing the mining of Bauxite from Sijimali, demanding the establishment of plants, employment for local youths, and measures to keep the environment safe.
Three months ago, when the irked people of the locality staged a demonstration and handed a memorandum to the district administration for consideration of their demands, the administration in turn allegedly leveled false cases on them and arrested 21 persons.
At today’s public hearing, the local people dug their heels in and said they wouldn’t allow the meeting to be held until the arrested villagers are not released.
The villagers opposed the public hearing meeting in the presence of the ADM, the members of the OSPCB, Rayagada SP, and police forces. They said if their demands are not met, they won’t allow the meeting in future as well.