The Pioneer, June 4, 2009
PNS | Bhubaneswar
The environment clearance to Vedanta to raise bauxite from Niyamgiri Hills would affect the livelihood of 5 lakh Adivasis, Harijans and 10 lakh farmers of Srikakulum district, said Odissa Krushak Mahasangh president Bibhudendra Pratap Das in a release.
Das said the springs and the rivers Bansadhara and Nagabali originating from it would dry up. And due to this two districts of Orissa and one district in Andhra Pradesh would definitely turn into a desert. The expert committee formed by the Supreme Court initially opined that by raising minerals Niyamgiri Hills would be affected. However, after Vedanta filed a petition the experts were replaced and the second report ruled in favour of the company and said mining would not affect the environment.
He alleged that the State Government and the Ministry of Environment and Forests were influenced and the former Union Environment Minister were own over by the company. Notably, there is a 1793 million tonne bauxite reserves in the State. But due to granting of lease to the company the bauxite would be exhausted.
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