State pushing for reservation of Karlapat mines for OMC

At a time when all attention is focused on the outcome of gram sabhas in Niyamgiri Hill Range with regards to proposed bauxite mining, the State government is pushing for reservation of Karlapat mines in favour of Odisha Mining Corporation. According to Steel and Mines department sources, documents relating to reservation for Karlapat reserve are now being sent to Union Ministry of Mines. The proposal for reserving bauxite deposit over an area of 3113.25 hectares has been revised to 3002.497 ha. The State government has been pursuing with the Union government for reserving Karlapat mines in favour of OMC since last year. The move assumed significance as there were indications that Dongria Kandh, a particularly vulnerable tribal group, would say no to mining in Niyamgiri in gram sabhas being convened as per Supreme Court order. OMC was to mine in Niyamgiri to supply bauxite to the alumina facility of Vedanta Alumina Refinery in Lanjigarh. Karlapat bauxite reserve has an estimated bauxite deposit of 200 million tonnes.

After proposal for reserving Karlapat in favour of OMC was mooted, activists had registered strong objection saying it would have an bad impact on rich biodiversity of the area if mining was allowed there.

According to Lok Shakti Abhiyan president Prafulla Samantra, a number of perennial streams and nallahs flow across the area and feed into river Tel. Besides, high plateau and waterfalls attract tourists to study and enjoy the nature, he said.