Locals against mining for bauxite.
By R. Chandrasekaran
CHENNAI: It looks like that the London-based Vedanta Resources’ plan to mine for bauxite in Orissa will run into rough weather with the majority of the local residents expressing their views against the project.
The miner had sought to source the ore for its alumina refinery. The company intended to produce one million ton a year alumina refinery in Orissa, but could not operate in full capacity for want of bauxite, which is an important raw material for producing alumina.
Vedanta also has a joint venture agreement with Odisha Mining Corp. (OMC), a state run company, for developing a bauxite mine and supplies it to Vedanta’s alumina refinery. In August 2010, the environment ministry had terminated the stage II forest clearance that was given to Vedanta’s bauxite project following opposition from local residents and activists. The OMC has taken the matter to the Supreme Court against the environment ministry.
In April, the apex court ruled that a ban on the company’s bauxite mining development will remain till local authorities conduct a study and file a report whether mining could be allowed or not. The court ruled that, “The gram sabha is also free to consider all the community, individual as well as cultural and religious claims, over and above the claims which have already been received from Rayagada and Kalahandi districts. Any such fresh claims be filed before the gram sabha within six weeks from the date of this judgment.”
As a follow up to the court ruling, the state government identified 12 villages to conduct the study and prepare a report.
Now, reports emerge that at least seven of the 12 village councils are not in favor of allowing Vedanta Resources to mine for bauxite.
The decision of the seven villages will put the state government in a quandary. The government may be forced to offer an alternate bauxite source to Vedanta to keep the project get going. However, this is bound to take time, thereby delaying the project.
To contact the author, email to rchandrasekaran@americanbazaaronline.com