Bhubaneswar, February 21: Two Congress MLAs Tara Prasad Bahinipati and Pabitra Saunta strongly opposed selling of bauxite ore from Kodingamali mines block in Koraput district to a private firm of Andhra Pradesh.
Raising the issue in the State Assembly yesterday, Tara Prasad Bahinipati said bauxite from the Kodingamali block of Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) has been provided to feed a local aluminium industry. However, the OMC has now decided to sell the ore to a private company from Andhra Pradesh, he said.
“We have submitted a memorandum to the district collector that our mineral should not be handed over to outsiders. But no action has been taken yet,” Bahinipati said.
The local tribals have been seating in a dharana for several days. Some goons have reached there and threatened them, he said, while asking, “If any untoward incident or firing happens, who will be responsible?”
The Congress leader requested the Chief Minister to instruct the OMC to cancel the agreement with the Andhra Pradesh company and provide the mineral to local industry.
“We will not oppose, if it will be given to any industry from Odisha,” he stated.
Similarly, Laxmipur MLA Pabitra Saunta said, “Laxmipur is a mineral rich area of Odisha. The area has huge deposits of Bauxite mines and Kodingamali has top quality bauxite ore, which has been explored by Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) for the past eight to nine years.”
It is unfortunate that the Odisha government is now planning to sell the bauxite mines to a private company from Andhra Pradesh. As per information, the private firm first will export the mines to foreign countries and after its value addition, the product will be imported to Odisha, he told media persons outside the House.
“If it is true, the double engine government’s “Make in India and Make in Odisha” campaign will remain only in slogan. The State government will also lose thousands of crores of revenue, if the mines will be sold to the private company,” the MLA said.
Though the matter has been brought to the notice of the Industries Minister several times, there is no result till now, he added.
The Congress leader said the double-engine government should refrain from selling valuable raw materials of Odisha and strengthen the state treasury.
He further said, “We hope that he (minister) will strongly act on this matter after detailed discussion with concerned stakeholders and cancel the agreement signed between OMC and Andhra Pradesh firm.”
He suggested the government take steps to set up an aluminium refinery in Laxmipur area to create employment for local youth. It would also help strengthen the state’s economy.
