DOSA bats for Vedanta project, inclusive growth in State

The Pioneer, Jan 1, 2011
PNS | BHUBANESWAR

Concerned over the "deplorable politics" and the ongoing controversy over the Vedanta bauxite mining in the Niyamagiri hills, a 12-member fact finding team of the Delhi Odia Students' Association (DOSA) had a two-day visit to the Lanjigarh block in Kalahandi district and viewed that the corporates, politicians and NGOs are fighting with each other instead of focusing on the development of the State.

Addressing a Press conference here on Friday, DOSA president Tejeswar Parida said that the poor tribals of the region are the victims of the continuing nasty politics, unholy nexus between the groups with vested

interests and the double standard approach while it requires qualitative improvements in the socio-economic fronts.

Parida alleged that the local administration was far from the required responsiveness and developmental interventions for ensuring better living standards while the Vedanta Aluminum Limited (VAL), claimed to have spent about `100 crore under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), need to come under the scanner of a social audit.

Parida observed that there can be harmony between the industrial development and environmental protection and also observed that the Centre should refrain from its political motive while according the environmental clearance to the Vedanta group. "If Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh could give clearances to the lavoram project and Navi Mumbai airport, why not in Odisha's case," Parida questioned.

To prevent the migration of unemployed youth and trafficking of tribal women to the different parts of country, DOSA advocated for employment generating heavy industries which only Vedanta can solve.

"The functioning of schools, health centre, vocational training, construction of small bridges, check dams for irrigation purpose and formation of women self help groups by Vedanta deserves appreciation," said Parida.

Parida alleged that some of the NGOs and political leaders were creating wrong impression and taking advantage of the ignorance of the tribals.

He further alleged that those vested interests have been exploiting the situation for grabbing huge funds in the name of development while certain NGOs are playing with the sentiments of the tribals by making immotive appeals on the basis of religion, faith and nature. Among others, Manas Mallick, Rajanikanta Das, Sibananda Mishra and Biswaranja Parida were present.

DOSA bats for industrialisation in Kalahandi
Expressbuzz, Jan 1, 2011

BHUBANESWAR: Delhi Oriya Students’ Association (DOSA) today alleged that the entire 'game-plan' of Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh was to provide a perfect launch pad for Rahul Gandhi on the Vedanta issue to woo the tribals at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district. A 12-member fact-finding team of DOSA recently visited the area.


“The stance of Environment Ministry (MoEF) in the Polavaram and the Navi Mumbai port projects exposed its double standards,’’ said Tejeshwar Parida, president, DOSA. He blamed some NGOs with international connections for making the issue controversial and questioned the findings of NC Saxena Committee report on Vedanta Alumina refinery expansion plan.

Batting for industrialisation in Kalahandi, the DOSA team observed that the ‘trickle-down’ effect of industrialisation is quite discernible in the region.

“The local administration lacks responsiveness in bettering the living standards of the primitive tribals,” claimed Sivananda Mishra, a member of the team. “We demand a social audit by members from civil society and media to verify the ground realities,” said another member Manas Mallick.

“We trekked to the top of the Niyamgiri to ascertain the truth,” he said.