Tribals protest mining lease to OSIL in Keonjhar

Pioneer News Services / Bhubaneswar

Taking a cue from the experience of Niyamgiri hill in Langigarh, the tribals residing in the Malangatoli hill region in Keonjhar district are an inspired lot to fight it out against the proposed mining of iron ore in the hill by the Orissa Sponge Iron Limited (OSIL).

Environmentalists and the green groups across the State have drawn flak against the project on the violation of environmental and conservation laws.

The convener of the Keonjhar Surakshya Parishad Sudhansu Panda said they have submitted a petition and affidavits before the Orissa Government voicing the objections of the locals against the proposed mining project to be carried out in the Kadakala and Luhakala villages of Banspal block of the Keonjhar district.

The Parishad also urged the Government not to provide environmental clearance to the OSIL and to cancel all the leases in the region immediately. The Parishad alleged that the OSIL was spreading the reign of terror in the project area by intimidating and threatening the innocent tribal people living in the area to support the project.

The area that will be affected by the mining project is a Scheduled-V area dominated by Paudi Bhuiyan a primitive tribal group. The total population as per the last census report in the buffer zone of the mining lease area is 23,801 out of which 17,789 are Scheduled Tribes and 1,455 are Scheduled Cast.

Moreover, at least four perennial springs including the major water bodies of the area like Rakmo Nala, Suna nadi, Kaijorah Nala and Khandadhara water-fall originate from the area proposed for the mining of iron ore.The water from these sources are vital for local agriculture and drinking water purposes.


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