Jairam comes calling on January 13

Times of India, Jan 10, 2013
BHUBANESWAR: Around two-and-a-half years after throwing a spanner in Vedanta's efforts to mine Niyamgiri bauxite deposits, Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh is slated to visit the project area at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district on January 13 and interact with the local Dongaria Kondhs, who are up-in-arms against the aluminium company.

Ramesh is scheduled to undertake a two-day trip to Kalahandi and Nuapada districts starting Sunday, official sources said. He would arrive atKesinga in Kalahandi and also tour Bhawanipatna and Lanjigarh, where he will inaugurate a Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra and talk to Dongaria Kondh and Kutia Kondh tribals, sources added.

The timing of Ramesh's trip assumes significance as the Vedanta's million tonne per annum alumina refinery at Lanjigarh has been closed since December due to lack of raw material linkage.Union environment and forests minister Ramesh had in 2010 scrapped the environment clearance granted to Vedanta to mine Niyamgiri. AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi had also visited the area and extended support to the tribals opposing Vedanta.