Protest against Posco, Vedanta projects

Over 600 tribal activists of Orissa, belonging to different organisations opposing the proposed mega projects of Posco, Vedanta and Arcelor Mittal in the state, staged a mass agitation in the city today against the Supreme Court’s verdict of clearing the Forest Diversion Plan for Posco and Vedanta Group’s Sterlite Industries.

The agitators also protested the arrest of Abhay Sahoo, the leader of Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti, the organisation spearheading the anti-Posco movement in the state.

Addressing the media, Prafulla Samantara, president of Lok Shakti Abhiyan said, “The tribals will neither offer land for the Posco project nor allow mining activities by Sterlite Industries in Niyamgiri. By clearing the Forest Diversion Plan for Posco and Sterlite projects, the Supreme Court has not given proper emphasis to environmental laws and has also ignored the constitutional rights of the tribals.”

 

“The Supreme Court gave its verdict in favour of Posco and Vedanta even though the court’s central empowered committee had earlier recommended a ban on mining operations in Niyamgiri hills and suggested non-allotment of forest land for the Posco project. The apex court order is not binding on tribals as it is against their rights and interests”, he added.

Among the different organisations which staged a united mass agitation today include the Lok Shakti Abhiyaan, Visthapan Virodhi Jan Manch of Sukinda, CPI (ML- new democracy), Mittal Pratirodh Manch of Patna in Keonjhar district, Samajwadi Jan Parishad and the Orissa Nirman ‘O’ Dadan Shramik Union.