The tribals near the Serubandha Hills of Koraput district in Odisha, India, have been continuing their opposition to the bauxite mining project to be undertaken in the area by National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO).
Concerning the opposition, public representatives for the residents residing in Semiliguda and Pottangi blocks of the district have come forward to save the Serubandha Hills. The protest includes voices and slogans stating "NALCO Go Back" with threats stating no kind of natural resource mining would be permitted, irrespective of whatever may come.
NALCO received the permission to conduct the bauxite mining in the Serubandha Hills back in 2024, but had not commenced it yet. As of now, all the mining operations under NALCO in this region have been continuing under the Panchpatmali bauxite mines, which are also located in the Koraput district.
From six panchayats, namely Kotia, Maliput, Khudi, Nuagaon, Pottangi, and Sorisha, brought together more than a hundred villagers under the Semiliguda and Pottangi blocks under the banner of the Serubandha Parvat Surakhya Samiti (SPSS). SPSS is a local group which assembled at the Malakarbandh villages to oppose the bauxite mining in the Serubandha Hills.
It has been incorporated in the project that nearly 2000 villages would be severely affected once the project commences, resulting in the displacement of them, damaged water supply and degradation of the local forests. The announcement of beginning the project by June next year has created rage among the villages, which resulted in the protest.
However, concerning these tribals' protest, Niranjan Samal, the executive Director (M&R) of NALCO, stated, "Nalco has obtained the mining lease for 111 million tonnes of bauxite in Serubandha hills. The mining development operator selected by Nalco will undertake operations and ensure that local concerns are addressed."
Owing to this, the company has further attributed that once the project is operational, it will be able to generate nearly 300 to 400 jobs, which shall further contribute to the development of the local area. In addition to this, the officials have also stated that the Pottangi mines play a vital role in ensuring security for the raw material to be used for the alumina refinery located at Damanjodi.
Also read: NALCO signs a lease for bauxite mining with 111 million tonnes of reserves
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