Second Niyamgiri vote also a no to bauxite mining

33 villagers unanimously oppose bauxite mining

In another setback to Vedanta Aluminium’s plans to source bauxite from Niyamgiri hills in Odisha, the villagers of Kesarpadi in Rayagada district on Monday unanimously disapproved the proposed project, claiming community and religious rights over the hill range.

On Thursday, the proposal to mine bauxite atop Niyamgiri hills had received a blow at the first people’s council meeting at Serkapadi, with 38 eligible voters of the village opposing the move.

At the second palli sabha, of Kesarpadi’s 36 eligible voters, 33, including 23 women members, turned up for the meeting, which was delayed by 40 minutes, owing to heavy rains.

Before the commencement of the sabha, the Dongaria Kondhs shouted slogans, vowing to protect the hills at any cost. The meeting was presided over by ward member Siram Garadia, in the presence of Rayagada district judge Sarat Chandra Mishra.

“The Niyamgiri hill range is our resource and Niyam Raja is our God. The hills offer us food, water and livelihood throughout the year, and we are not going to quit it,” said Dundu Kutruka, a tribal.

“The meeting passed off peacefully and the claims they had filed earlier were discussed. As many as 19 individual and one community claim were filed from the village, under the Forest Right Act,” said nodal officer Gorachand Gamango.

The sabha lasted about two hours. Four platoons of police forces were deployed to prevent any untoward situation. Activists of the Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti (NSS), a committee formed to safeguard the rights of the tribals, viewed the proceedings from outside.

“We expect the tribals to present the same views at the forthcoming palli sabhas,” said NSS advisor Bhala Chandra Sarangi.

The third gram sabha in the current referendum on the Niyamgiri mining issue would be held at Tadijhola village on Tuesday.

NIYAMGIRI VOTES ON MINING

* Thirty-three of 36 eligible voters of Kesarpadi village, including all 23 women, voted against bauxite mining at the second  palli sabha in Rayagada district

* Earlier, 38 villagers voted against mining at the first palli sabha in the district at Serkapadi last Thursday