Tribals protest bauxite mining in Odisha’s Koraput reserve forest

Thousands of tribal residents in Odisha's Koraput district staged a massive demonstration on Tuesday, protesting against the proposed bauxite mining project in the Nageswari Reserve Forest.

The demonstrators, representing 13 gram sabhas in Nandapur block, marched in protest under the banner of the Community Forest Resource Management Committees (CRMCs).

Raising concerns over environmental damage and threats to their livelihood, the agitators demanded an immediate halt to the project.

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Villagers Seek President’s Intervention

Seeking the intervention of President Droupadi Murmu, they submitted a memorandum to Nandapur Tahasildar Prabhati Jhodia, urging action against the proposed mining activity.

In the memorandum, the villagers alleged violations of key protective laws, including the Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006, the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) of 1996, and rules under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution.

"The leasing of Nageswari Reserve Forest for mining is a direct violation of the FRA, which mandates the consent of gram sabhas before any diversion of forest land. Our gram sabhas were neither consulted nor did they give consent for this project," the memorandum stated.

Concerns Over Public Consultation

The district administration and the Odisha State Pollution Control Board conducted a public hearing on March 6 regarding the mining project. However, villagers claim their voices were ignored in the decision-making process.

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Government Response

"The memorandum will be sent to the state government for necessary action," assured tahasildar Prabhati Jhodia.

(With PTI Inputs)