Stop granting indiscriminate bauxite mining leases to protect the state’s water resources and livelihoods
“Now, under the guise of creating an “Alumina Hub,” Adani and Vedanta are influencing the state government and competing to grab mines by the dozens. As a result, water sources in Kashipur, Thuamul Rampur regions, and Koraput district—including the Kolab River, Saberi River, Jhanjavati River, Nagavali River, Hati River, Tel River, and numerous tributaries—will dry up and become polluted. Approximately 50 waterfalls in Sijimali, Kuturumali, and the Jalaput reservoir area, 18 waterfalls in Karlapat, and 36 perennial streams on Mali hill will disappear.”
Bhubaneswar,August 11: In a press conference organized by the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) and the Centre for Climate Justice, PrafullaSamantara, Narendra Mohanty, and Dr.Biswajit Ray expressed deep concern, stating that the state government’s indiscriminate granting of bauxite mining leases will render the state resource-depleted and destroy its sustainable water resources. They demanded that the government immediately withdraw these leases and cancel auction orders for upcoming mines.
The intrinsic nature of bauxite metal—a precious gift of nature—is to absorb rainwater, store it underground, and release it continuously through natural springs after the rains, which feeds the perennial streams and rivers. Wherever bauxite regions exist across the globe, they are referred to as “water sponges”.
Over 55 percent of the country’s bauxite is concentrated across five south-western districts of our state—Bargarh, Balangir, Kalahandi, Rayagada, and Koraput—in ranges such as Gandhamardan, Niyamgiri, Karlapat, Khandualamali, Manjiamali, Sijimali, Kuturumali, Sasu-Bohumali, Baphlimali, Kodingamali, Nageswari Hill, Panchapatamali, Pottangi Hill, Karnakonda, Serubandha, and Deomali. Currently, mining operations are ongoing in Panchapatamali Baphlimali, and Kodingamali under leases granted to NALCO, OMC, and Aditya Birla. Drying up of water sources, pollution of rivers and streams, and the destruction of forests in these regions have completely devastated millet farming and agriculture. People are suffering from a web of pollution.
Currently, NALCO and Vedanta Aluminium are exporting abroad. Producing far beyond the nation’s requirements, draining the state of its resources, and destroying the bauxite-bearing, highly sensitive Eastern Ghats mountain range of Odisha is an injustice to the future generations of the state and country. Uprooting the livelihoods of lakhs of people and depriving them of their right to survive is deeply unjust and unconstitutional. While leases have already been issued to various companies in mountain ranges of Koraput district such as Serubandha, Nageswari Hill, Karnakonda, Sijimali, and Kuturumali, auction processes have now been completed for the dense, ecologically sensitive forest of Karlapat. Additionally, notifications have been issued for the auction of three mountains near Tikiri in Kashipur’sSasu-Bohumali. Leases have already been granted—two to Adani Company and three to Vedanta Company.
Now, under the guise of creating an “Alumina Hub,” Adani and Vedanta are influencing the state government and competing to grab mines by the dozens. As a result, water sources in Kashipur, Thuamul Rampur regions, and Koraput district—including the Kolab River, Saberi River, Jhanjavati River, Nagavali River, Hati River, Tel River, and numerous tributaries—will dry up and become polluted. Approximately 50 waterfalls in Sijimali, Kuturumali, and the Jalaput reservoir area, 18 waterfalls in Karlapat, and 36 perennial streams on Mali hill will disappear. Consequently, thousands of families will be deprived of forest produce, millet, and agriculture, leading to a severe food crisis and accelerating climate change.
The mining leases granted so far violate constitutional directives, the Forest Rights Act, PESA, and the State’s 1956 Regulation 2, completely stripping Gram Sabhas of their rights.
Unfazed by police batons and imprisonment, Adivasis and Dalits have united in Sijimali, Kuturumali, Nageswari Hill, Mali Hill, and Serubandha to maintain resistance through mass movements.
We appeal to conscious citizens and call upon leadership across all political parties to exert pressure on the government to halt such unnecessary, indiscriminate mining, resisting corporate favouritism and bankruptcy policies that sell off the land to run the state. We urge the Government to prepare for an open discussion on the utilization of mineral wealth how and to what extent to use for common needs.
The government must reconsider its decision and impose a ban on bauxite mining until the current three active mining leases are exhausted; otherwise, mass movements will be expanded to include protect and conserve forest, land, and water, Mr. Samantara states.
