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With the state tribal affairs department still groping for want of clarity in the recent Supreme Court (SC) order on holding of gram sabhas for deciding fate of bauxite mining at Niyamgiri hills, it has decided to consult the law department for interpreting the verdict.
"The SC order on conduct of gram sabhas lacks clarity. It is not specifically mentioned in the order on the number of villages where these meetings are to be held. So, we have decided to consult the law department. Whatever views the law department gives after interpreting the order, we will act accordingly”, said a senior official of SC & ST development department.
Asked on how soon the department will initiate activities for conduct of gram sabhas, he said, “No timeline can be given as of now. Any activity can commence only after we receive the views of the law department.”
In response to a previous judgement of SC, we had submitted a status report on compliance with Forest Right Act (FRA) on 12 villages located on hill slopes, he added.
In a letter dated May 2, the Union tribal affairs ministry has asked the state SC & ST development department to issue advertisements in local newspapers informing all tribals and traditional forest dwellers in Kalahandi and Raygada districts to file claims of religious and cultural rights, along with the individual and community rights under the FRA.
The ministry has urged the state government to display the notification regarding holding of palli sabha along with the details of the SC order in all villages in the two districts irrespective of their proximity from the mining site.
Besides, copy of such notification should be sent to all the civil societies and NGOs that are active in these two districts, so that complete transparency is maintained in the identification of claims, it said.
Opening of Niyamgiri bauxite mines spread over Kalahandi and Rayagada districts was crucial for functioning of Vedanta Aluminium Ltd (VAL's) one million tonne alumina refinery at Lanjigarh. The refinery, which depends entirely on externally sourced bauxite, has been shut since December 5 last year due to bauxite unavailability.
