With a demand for the immediate opening of bauxite mines, the residents of Kalahandi, a district in Odisha, led by Lanjigarh Anchalik Vikash Parishad (LAVP), have set up a large-scale rally this Friday, August 22, 2025. The motto of the rally was securing local livelihoods and catalysing regional development.
Local leaders rallied against policy paralysis
For quite some time, there has been widespread frustration regarding the inaction over resource utilisation. It was more evident from the demonstration led by LAVP president Sridhar Pesnia and supported by community leaders, including the Lanjigarh Block vice-chairman, Zilla Parishad members, tribal elders and transport associations. Protestors in the rally further pointed out that Kalahandi’s own resources remain untapped due to excessive reliance on imports. Not only is it an economic loss, but it is also a missed opportunity for social development. As of now, India imports more than 4.5 million tonnes of bauxite annually, even though domestic reserves exceed 5 billion tonnes.
Local leaders during the Friday rally have emphasised the fact that the opening of the mines is not only a business imperative, but also a socio-economic demand. For example, the opening of the bauxite mines can ideally help in supplying raw materials to the alumina refinery at Lanjigarh, which was commissioned in 2003 and continues to face raw material shortages. It affects industrial stability and job creation at the same time.
Leaders have also pressed for Gram Sabha consultations under the PESA and FRA frameworks to ensure legal compliance and community participation, arguing that mining can proceed responsibly while directly benefitting villages.
Kalahandi’s economic gains on the horizon
As mentioned earlier, the opening of Kalahandi’s bauxite mine could trigger multi-dimensional profit. It promises to revive the regional economic state by strengthening the alumina supply chain, while creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs. At the same time, this move will significantly reduce distress migration from tribal belts.
Opening of the Kalahandi mines will not only restore investors’ confidence in Odisha’s industrial ecosystem but also guarantee the availability of raw materials locally for the ongoing and future projects. Simultaneously, mining revenues gained through the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) could also finance local infrastructure, healthcare and education, embedding long-term developmental gains.
The Kalahandi rally is a lot more than a simple call for mining. It is a straightforward demand to transform latent mineral wealth into tangible economic and social progress. For Odisha, the home to nearly 60 per cent of India’s bauxite reserves, the opening of the Kalahandi mines could be a great opportunity as well as a litmus test to balance industrial growth with inclusive development.
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