3 months ago
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Expressing concerns implicit the accelerated depletion of Odisha’s mineral resources, civilian rights activists connected Sunday (February 1, 2026) alleged that the State government, nether the power of ample firm houses, was showing scant respect for laws meant to support the interests of section communities, peculiarly tribals.
Environmentalist and Goldman Environmental Prize victor Prafulla Samantra said the auction process for implicit 40 ember mines catering to home and planetary markets was nearing completion. “In Odisha, auctions for 9 ember blocks, 8 successful the Chhendipada country of Angul territory and 1 successful Lakhanpur successful Jharsuguda district, person already concluded,” helium said.
“These auctions volition pb to the demolition of astir 33,000 acres of wood and cultivation land,” Mr. Samantra alleged.
He further pointed retired that permissions were being sought to excavation bauxite successful the Eastern Ghats, an ecologically delicate hotspot dispersed crossed Kalahandi, Rayagada and Koraput districts.
“Maliparbat successful Koraput unsocial has astir 9 cardinal tonnes of bauxite, but it is besides the root of 30 perennial streams that provender the Kolab river. Mining present threatens the livelihoods of radical successful 44 villages. In Pottangi, contempt beardown absorption from section tribals, nationalist assemblage undertaking National Aluminium Company Limited has been granted a mining lease. Communities fearfulness the drying up of springs, akin to what happened astatine Panchpatmali bauxite mine,” helium said.
Proposed bauxite mining projects successful Sijimali, Kuturumali and Sasubohumali would besides crook the portion into a desert, affecting astir 150 tribal and Dalit villages, Mr. Samantra claimed.
Lingaraj, a salient civilian rights activist, said mainstream governmental parties were giving a acold enarthrosis to mining-related issues that person superior implications for the environment, livelihoods and h2o resources.
“Political parties look unwilling to perceive to the increasing resentment connected the ground. The authorities is facilitating mineral extraction by ample firm houses without taking a semipermanent presumption of assets sustainability,” helium said. (EOM)
