Niyamgiri mining not to affect tribals, claims SGAT

Business Standard, June 20, 2013
The Society of Geoscientists and Allied Technologies (SGAT), a body of pro-mining lobbyists, today said that the bauxite mining project at Niyamgiri Hill in Kalahandi district will not affect the lifestyle and cultural rights of tribals living in the area.

"There is no habitation or cultivation on top of the Niyamgiri hill. The Dongria Kondhs live on the hilly slope far away from the proposed mining area. The apprehension that the proposed mining will adversely affect the lifestyle, culture, cultivation, tradition of the primitive tribe is totally unfounded," a presentation prepared by SGAT claimed.

The Supreme Court, on April 18, this year had ruled that the mining project in the Niyamgiri Hills will have to get clearance from the gram sabha or village councils, which will also consider the cultural and religious rights of the tribals and forest dwellers living in Niyamgiri hill range saddling across two districts of Rayagada and Kalahandi.

"Gram sabha can also examine whether the proposed mining area, Niyama Danger, 10 kms from the peak, would in any way affect the abode of Niyam Raja (tribals' deity). Needless to say, if the bauxite mining project, in any way, affects their religious rights, especially the right to worship their deity, that right has to be preserved and protected," said the apex court order in April.

The SGAT said, the proposed mining project at Niyamgiri Hills will not impact the religious rights of the tribals. "The proposed mining area is located 10 km away from the abode of Niyam Raja. There is no possibility of mining operations affecting the religious rights of the tribal people and neither the abode of the deity will be affected in anyway," it said.

The state government has decided to hold gram sabhas in 12 villages of Rayagada and Kalahandi districts. This has been objected by the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) and a host of non-government organisations (NGOs) including human rights watchdog Amnesty International, who want gram sabhas to be held in more number of villages. The state government has sought legal opinion on expanding the scope of gram sabha to more villages as desired by the MoTA.

The recent opposition from the central ministry is likely to delay the process. The SGAT made a scathing attack against the Centre for deliberately creating hurdles in the voting process.