Rayagada calls off public hearing amid villagers’ protest

Koraput: The Rayagada district administration called off the public hearing planned at Podapodi under Kashipur block on Wednesday bowing to stiff opposition from villagers to the proposed second phase expansion of bauxite mining at Kodingamali hill on the border of Koraput and Rayagada districts.
“A fresh date for the public hearing will be finalised in consultation with the villagers,” district collector (Rayagada) Pramod Kumar Behera said
Resentment has been brewing among the villagers since the Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) circulated notices to hold the public hearing at Podapadi in Rayagada district on November 25 and in Laxmipur block of Koraput district on December 2 for the expansion of bauxite mining at Kodingamali from its existing three million tonne to six million tonne per annum.
Villagers, protesting under the aegis of the Kodingamali Surakhya Manch (KSM), have been demanding the establishment of an aluminium factory in the region as a pre-condition for mining of bauxite from Kodingamali hill. On Tuesday, they locked the high school at Podapadi, the venue for the public hearing.
Though police and local administration tried to pacify the agitators, the villagers remained adamant. Recently, Koraput MP Saptagiri Ulaka extended his support to the villagers’ demand for the establishment of an aluminium factory that would generate employment for local youths.
“The mining of bauxite at Kodingamali hill will ruin the local economy unless an aluminium company is established. It will deprive the villagers of a living derived from collecting minor forest produce as well as hamper agricultural activities as several perennial sources of water will dry up,” Ulaka said.
“We urge the state government to take necessary steps to ensure that a factory is established here which will subsequently enhance the local economy,” he added. The MP further said the state government had signed a MoU with Hindalco for the establishment of a factory at Konsariguda in Rayagada district with an investment of Rs 8,000 crore in 2007.
At least 1,400 acres of land was acquired for the purpose and it was proposed to mine bauxite from Kodingamali hill for the company. “But even after 13 years of the MoU, no step has been taken for the establishment of the company and now the state government is planning to mine bauxite from Kodingamali hill to sell it to some other company. We strongly condemn their decision,” the MP said.
“If grievances of local villagers are not addressed, the state government will be responsible for any untoward incident. At no cost, mining at Kodingamali will be allowed,” he added.