Bhubaneswar: Vedanta chairman Anil Agarwal on Saturday said he discussed reviving bauxite mining proposal in Niyamgiri with chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi giving a push to the long-stalled project that was shelved in 2013 after all 12 gram sabhas unanimously rejected the proposal following years of tribal resistance and protests.“Today it was discussed for reopening of Niyamgiri. The affected tribals should be given jobs,” Agarwal said, adding that Vedanta’s focus has always been on generating maximum employment.Thanking those who supported the company’s industrial projects, Agarwal said, “We fought that battle together to open up Kalahandi irrespective of what the rest of the world thought about mining bauxite and manufacturing aluminium.” He pointed to Vedanta’s 5 MTPA alumina refinery at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district as a successful example of industrial development.Describing Odisha’s vast bauxite reserves as a major economic asset, Agarwal said the mineral sector generates large-scale employment and supports economic growth. It is unfortunate that the mineral has not been used the way it should have been, he said.Agarwal said that when Niyamgiri was allotted to the company in 2003, mining rights were part of the understanding and that govt had assured the required clearances. He said Odisha has witnessed a significant shift in its attitude towards industrialisation over the past two decades, with opposition to mining and industrial projects declining as people increasingly recognise their role in creating jobs, revenue and economic growth.Referring to protests against bauxite mining in the Sijimali reserve earlier this year, Agarwal said some level of resistance is natural for any large project. “However, people in Odisha today understand the importance of mining. There is no widespread opposition to industrialisation in the state as was the case around 20 years ago,” he said.A Vedanta official said the chairman meant bauxite mining in the Kalahandi-Rayagada belt where it is available. In 2004, Odisha entered into agreements with Vedanta Resources and its subsidiaries to ensure a long-term supply of 150 million tonnes of bauxite for its alumina refinery at Lanjigarh. A substantial portion was to come from a joint venture with the state-owned Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) to mine the bauxite-rich Niyamgiri hills, estimated to hold around 80 million tonnes of reserves.The Niyamgiri mining proposal had triggered sustained opposition from activists, tribal groups and environmental organisations, who argued that mining would threaten forests, water sources, wildlife and the religious rights of the Dongria Kondh, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).On April 18, 2013, Supreme Court ruled that gram sabhas in the affected villages must decide whether the proposed mining would infringe upon tribal religious, cultural and forest rights under the Forest Rights Act. Between July and Aug that year, all 12 gram sabhas unanimously rejected the proposal, citing religious, cultural and livelihood concerns.
