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Tribals opposing mining plan rally

BERHAMPUR: Tribals opposing the mining project of the Vedanta Alumina Limited (VAL) on Niyamgiri hills in south Orissa have decided to hold a large rally as a show of strength at Muniguda in Rayagada district.

This rally has been scheduled to be held in the third week of January. It was decided at a meeting of tribal representatives of 77 villages to be affected by the mining project at Erupa village on the border of Rayagada and Kalahandi districts on Friday. This meeting was called up by the Niyamgiri Surakhya Samity, the organisation which is spearheading the agitation against VAL’s mining project and displacement of tribals in the area.

The tribal representatives of these 77 villages were from the Dongria Kondh community. Niyamgiri houses 7,987 primitive Dongria tribals. This hill range was rich in biodiversity, dense forest and wild animals. Its perennial water streams form two big rivers -- Rushikulaya and Nagavali of south Orissa.

This meeting was addressed by Dongria tribal leader Jitendra Jakesika, president of tribal organisation Lok Sangram Manch (LSM) Budha Gamang, environmental activist Praful Samantra, CPI-ML (New Democracy) leader Bhala Chandra Sarangi etc. At least 104 tribal villages are to be affected by this controversial mining project. The affected villages were in Muniguda, Bisamkatak, Kalyansinghpur blocks of Rayagada district and Biswanathpur block of Kalahandi district.

Tribal representatives and social activists decided to hold a massive rally at Muniguda to strengthen their movement and to create public awareness. It is to be held in the third week of January , said Mr Samantra.

The resistance to the project has already begun. Since November 10 the tribals have not allowed the VAL officials to enter the area and initiate process for construction of wider road for the mining work.

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