4 days ago
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The National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), a forum of activists, connected Thursday (May 28, 2026) urged the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to cull an adept panel’s proposal for biology clearance to commencement mining operations successful Sijimali Bauxite Mine successful Odisha’s Rayagada and Kalahandi districts.
“On May 15, 2026, the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) recommended biology clearance for assorted projects, allegedly ignoring the objections of the affected section population. Mining astatine Sijimali threatens to destruct the Panichida-Shuagad stream and much than 1 100 perennial streams, including Ranijhola, Jamu, and Gurungijhola,” said NAPM’s Prafulla Samantara and Narendra Mohanty successful a statement.
Stating that the demolition of these waterfalls and streams would extremity the cultivation of millets and different cultivation activities successful the region, Mr. Samantara said this volition effect successful a terrible livelihood situation for the tribal and Dalit communities, starring to an biology catastrophe.
“Moreover, the section communities clasp ineffable spiritual rights astatine the Tiji Raja worship site, which volition beryllium desecrated by mining activities,” they said. The activists alleged that wood onshore transportation and onshore acquisition were being carried retired forcibly based connected fraudulent gram sabhas.
Mr. Samantara said the adept committee’s proposal favouring Vedanta Limited was unjust and overlooked the crushed world of ecological value and tribal’s close to beingness and livelihoods.
“The tribal and Dalit communities person been protesting democratically contempt facing constabulary brutality, including lathi complaint and gunfire. Currently, 12 villagers person been successful jailhouse for the past 3 months owed to their engagement successful the movement,” the NAPM leaders said.
”We impulse the Union Ministry of Environment to cull this clearance proposal and telephone upon the State Government to cancel the mining lease. If these demands are not met, a monolithic intensification of the people’s question is inevitable,” they said.
