Odisha: Tribal leaders appeal in High court against MoEF's decision over Vedanta Aluminium

orissadiary.com, Nov 12, 2010

Report by Orissa Diary correspondent; Cuttack:  Today, several leading tribal organisations from Kalahandi and Raygada districts  have proactively submitted writ petitions to the Hon`ble High court against the recent verdict of Ministry of Environment and Forest (MOEF) for stalling the expansion of refinery project of Vedanta Aluminium limited ( VAL) at Lanjigarh.

In an unprecedented move, perhaps for the first time in the country, hundreds of local tribals and inhabitants of the nearby villages of Lajigarh have come all the way from their native village to appeal to the state High Court at Cuttak against the move of  MOEF, Government of India.

In a writ petition to the High Court the organisations have mentioned that because of refinery initiative of Vedanta Aluminium at Lanjigarh , hundreds of locals are being engaged directly and indirectly for the livelihood . In fact the company has taken steps to ensure that the residents of Lanjigarh have some form of a dignified lifestyle; have been able to integrate themselves into the mainstream and have succeeded in providing for the needs of their family members.
They have further submitted that all-round development has been initiated in the villages, resulting in raising the standard of education, medical facilities, infrastructure facilities, thereby giving confidence and assurance to the locals of Lanjigarh. A large number of locals, who are also members of the Petitioner association, have purchased vehicles, which are being used at the construction site. It is further submitted that owing to the stoppage of construction activities at the said site, these Petitioners will be faced with the prospect of dishonouring of the loans taken to purchase the said vehicles.
Eight such organisations have jointly submitted the petition to the Chief justice of Orissa .These organisations are :-
1. Niyamgiri Vedanta Nagar, ( Rehabilitation Colony), Lanjigarh, Kalahandi, Orissa.
2. Lanjigarh Anchalika Bikash Parishad, Lanjigarh, Kalahandi, Orissa.
3. Nabin Vikash Trush, Bisamcuttack, Rayagada, Orissa.
4. Unnayan Anchalika Samiti, Lanjigarh, Kalahandi, Orissa.
5. Alumina Refinery Labour Union, Lanjigarh, Kalahandi, Orissa.
6. Niyamgiri Adivasi VIkash Parishad,
7. Shakti Organisation, Rayagda, Orissa
8. Kuii Bikash Parishad, Kurli, Rayagada, Orissa.
After submitting the PIL  ,their official spokesperson  Mr Sridhar Pesina said to the media “In the last three  months, most of the shops & markets have been closed.  Our people have again started migrating to other states and some people who had  started private entrepreneurship are avoiding coming home in fear of action on account of default of loan repayment. Conditions are becoming worse day by day” Although Vedanta Management has assured us of restarting the project, but the current situation has created uncertainties and fear among the people. He criticised the MOEF for not realising the ground reality and consequences of such decision which has forced them to approach the Hon`ble High Court for the justice .
There is a quantum shift in the region through the community development initiatives undertaken by the company in health, education and livelihood. The people of this area are waiting to reap  the benefits of implementation of the order of Hon’ble Supreme Court by which 5% of the profit (before tax) from the project would have been shared with the community for developmental works. The process has started and we understand that after expansion the contribution for the developmental work would be in the order of Rs 80-100 Cr annually which can provide livelihood opportunities for everyone in the area and changing today`s perception of  Kalahandi as a “Black Pot”.