Vedanta faces protest threat

The Statesman, Oct 17, 2009

;Statesman News Service
BHAWANIPATNA, 16 OCT: Vedanta Aluminium Ltd has proposed a mining project that will include the mining of Niyamgiri hills for bauxite. The proposal has evoked sharp criticism even from the UK government recently and received another jolt from the Lok Sabha MP of Kalahandi, Mr Bhakta Charan Das, who has warned of mass mobilisation against the plant.
Mr Das, a late entrant to the anti-Vedanta campaign had remained silent since his election to the Lok Sabha. Yesterday, he renewed his public stand but tempered it by throwing open alternatives both in the form of mines and development package entailing a cost of Rs 1500 crore.
To retain his public stand, he said if the company does not agree to the ‘package’ he would start a mass movement from December.
Addressing a day long convention organised by Green Kalahandi, an outfit floated by Mr Das, he said instead of Niyamgiri, Vedanta should mine Soma mali and Sirji mali for bauxite.
Mr Das who was dead against the mining of Niyamgiri and had even taken Dongaria tribals to New Delhi to present their case, went on to note that mining Niyamgiri can only be considered if an independent body of scientists study the proposal and assure that there will be minimal impact on its biodiversity as well as the tribals who live and worship the hill, he said.
Presenting the ‘draft wish list’ , Mr Das said unless VAL agrees to this package it will face a mass movement from December leading to closure of its refinery.
While some of those who attended the convention felt that the talk of package and alternatives reflected a shift in stand or a escape door for Mr Das, others felt that it does not dilute the pre-poll stand adopted by their leader. The draft package involves - environment protection, water management, employment, education, health services, culture and infrastructure.
It suggested that a central team whould visit the mining area every four months to assess and review the situation and the environment clearance should be renewed on an annual basis.
Employment opportunity should be provided for 10,000 unemployed youth and all persons affected by the company should be provided employment with minimum wages, it said.
Local entrepreneurs should be given opportunity to set up ancillary industries and the displaced persons as well as Dangria/ Jharnia Kondhs should be taken as share holders of the company so that they can have stake over the activities and profit of the company, the draft proposal also says.
For protection of ground water VAL should construct a barrage at Kesinga over Tel river from where VAL is now lifting water for its Lanjigarh plant, which would also give
thrust to providing safe drinking water to people, it said.
The company should also establish a 500 bedded hospital and medical college in the district. Besides, there were several other demands placed in the draft package thrown up for debate yesterday.
Among others anti-Vedanta activists Mr Prafulla Samantrai, Mr Sidharta Naik, Mr Kirtan Naik, Mr Bharat Thakur, Mr Lingaraj Ajad, Prof Gopabandhu Behera, Mr Jaganath Mund, MrAjaya Mishra, Mr Harjinder Singh took part in the convention.