HC nominates observers for gram sabhas at Niyamgiri

The Odisha High Court has nominated the district judges of Rayagada and Kalahandi as observers to oversee the proceedings of gram sabhas to be conducted in 12 villages on Niyamgiri hill slopes saddling across these two districts.

The gram sabhas would decide the fate of bauxite excavation from the ecologically sensitive Niyamgiri hills. Opening of Niyamgiri bauxite mines is crucial for Vedanta Aluminium Ltd's (VAL) one million tonne alumina refinery at Lanjigarh which has been shut since December 5 last year due to bauxite unavailability.

Following the April 18 direction of the Supreme Court, the state government had requested the high court for nomination of judicial officer of the rank of a district judge.

The apex court had directed to complete gram sabhas within three months to get the mandate of the local people regarding the mining project.

The judgment had also called for considering all claims on community, individual, cultural and religious rights of the local inhabitants.

Meanwhile, the SC and ST department has asked the district collectors to consider fresh claims in six weeks.

"We have asked the collectors of Rayagada and Kalahandi districts to consider all fresh claims within six weeks," said Santosh Sarangi, secretary, ST & SC, minorities and backward classes welfare department.

The gram sabha was supposed to furnish its views in three months, which will then be communicated to the Union ministry of environment & forests (MoEF). The MoEF after reviewing the gram sabha's views, will take a final decision in two months as per the apex court's direction.