19 JUNE 2013Business Standard
Amnesty urges holistic particpation for Vedanta mining project talks
Edited by : AL CIRCLE
2 min read
International human rights advocacy group, Amnesty International, has urged the Odisha government to hold gram sabhas in all 80 odd Dongria Kondh Adivasi (Indigenous) and other Adivasi villages in Niyamgiri hills which are likely to be affected by bauxite mining for an alumina refinery of Vedanta Aluminium (VAL).
It pointed out that the newspaper advertisements issued by the Odisha government have asked the communities in only 12 villages — seven in Rayagada district and five in Kalahandi district — to file, within the next six weeks, their claims on the forest areas proposed to be mined.
The decision to conduct gram sabhas in 12 villages was made after the April 18 Supreme Court ruling.
The apex court has observed that the local tribal inhabitants would take a decision whether the proposed mining would be allowed at Niyamgiri hills or not.
The human rights watch dog has called upon the state government to ensure that the gram sabhas are conducted in all the villages in free and genuine manner.
Expressing concern over the presence of security personnel there, Amnesty said, the central paramilitary forces stationed in the Niyamgiri hills have resorted to intimidation of the Dongria Kondh Adivasi communities, urging them to give up their opposition to the bauxite mine plan.
It pointed out that the newspaper advertisements issued by the Odisha government have asked the communities in only 12 villages — seven in Rayagada district and five in Kalahandi district — to file, within the next six weeks, their claims on the forest areas proposed to be mined.
The decision to conduct gram sabhas in 12 villages was made after the April 18 Supreme Court ruling.
The apex court has observed that the local tribal inhabitants would take a decision whether the proposed mining would be allowed at Niyamgiri hills or not.
The human rights watch dog has called upon the state government to ensure that the gram sabhas are conducted in all the villages in free and genuine manner.
Expressing concern over the presence of security personnel there, Amnesty said, the central paramilitary forces stationed in the Niyamgiri hills have resorted to intimidation of the Dongria Kondh Adivasi communities, urging them to give up their opposition to the bauxite mine plan.
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