Bhubaneswar, Nov 19, 2009
In a written reply to a question from Hitesh Bagarti (BJP), Steel and Mines Minister Raghunath Mohanty told the House there is a proposal to give permission to the Stateowned Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) for mining activities at Niyamgiri hills.
The Minister said no Dangaria Kandha tribe lived at the proposed mining area of Lanjigarh located between Rayagada and Kalahandi districts. The mining project at Niyamgiri is aimed at supplying bauxite to the alumina refinery of Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL) at Lanjigarh.
He maintained that steps are being taken for the welfare of the Dangaria and Kutia Kandha tribes living on periphery of the Niyamgiri hills. A special purpose vehicle (SPV) in the name of Lanjigarh Project Area Development Foundation (LPADF) was constituted with contribution of the State Government (25 per cent), OMC (26 per cent) and Sterlite Industries Limited (49 per cent) as per the apex court directive, he added.
The Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) - Southern Division - is the chairman of the SPV which on its first meeting decided to take up projects worth Rs 17.70 crore on health, education, road communication and infrastructure development required for the uplift of Kutia Kandha and Dangaria Kandha tribes, he said.
The projects included solar lighting, improvement of educational institutions for Dangaria Kandhas at Khambesi and Chatikana, giving pipe water supply to Ambadola, Kalyan Singhpur and Bisam Katak areas besides road communication and bridges for the betterment of the tribes.
Steps taken through the SPV will help in improving social status as well as lifestyle of tribes, the Minister said.
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