Odisha asks HC to nominate officer for Niyamgiri gram sabhas

As follow up action of Supreme Court's landmark judgement on the proposed bauxite mining at Niyamgiri Hills, Odisha government in a letter to the High Court today urged it to nominate a district-level judicial officer for conducting gram sabhas.
Officials here said the date of holding the gram sabhas at 12 Niyamgiri hill slope villages will be decided in the next two to three days. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will take a final call on the date of the gram sabhas.
"We have apprised Governor S C Jamir about the letter given to Orissa High Court and the steps taken by the state government to implement the apex court's April 18 order on the proposed bauxite mining in Niyamgiri Hills," ST and SC Development secretary Santosh Sarangi told reporters after attending a meeting at the Raj Bhavan.

The state government, he said, has also decided to urge Supreme Court to allow another fortnight for completing the process of holding gram sabhas and receiving petitions from the tribals and other forest dwellers under the Forest Rights Act - 2006.
Secretaries of the departments of ST and SC development, steel and mines, besides chairman-cum-managing director of Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) apprised Jamir about the steps taken by the state government.
Sarangi said collectors of Kalahandi and Rayagada districts will be soon asked to organise gram sabha in 12 villages on the slopes of the hill. While five of the villages are located in Kalahandi district, the rest seven are in Rayagada district.

Meanwhile, Union Tribal Affairs Minister V Kishore Chandra Deo has shot off a letter to the Governor asking him to use his power to protect the interest of the tribals of Niyamgiri Hills.