MOEF member visits Niyamgiri, interacts with locals

The Pioneer, Feb 1, 2010
PNS | Bhawanipatna

The member of Forest Advisory Committee of Ministry of Environment and Forests Dr Usha Ramanathan on Friday interacted with the villagers and forest dwellers likely to be affected by mining on the Niyamgiri hills, after walking near five km on the Niyamgiri hill from Phuldumer to Lakhpadar.

What would be the impact of mining at Niyamgiri hill? Whether any Government officials had come to let you know there would be mining at top of the hill? Have they made any community claims under Forest Rights Act? Who were involved in felling a large number of trees in the Reserve forest area and when it was felled? Why do you feel that your lives would be affected after mining? In which cases the police had arrested you? How many villages and families are living in Niyamgiri hill, whether any corporate social responsibility officer had come to your villages? Were the few important questions among others asked by Ramanathan.

Former Additional Director General of Wildlife Binod Risi had already visited the area a few days back. The report is likely to be submitted to the MOEF on February 6 by the Central team. Reports said Vedanta has applied for 701 hectares of land in Niyamgiri hill for mining bauxite. Notably, the MOEF had asked the State Government to submit a report whether there was any violation of Central guidelines in the establishment of the industry.