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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | New tribal minister opposes Posco project by Subodh Ghildiyal

New tribal minister opposes Posco project by Subodh Ghildiyal

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published Published on Jul 14, 2011   modified Modified on Jul 14, 2011
Newly-appointed tribal affairs minister V Kishore Chandra Deo on Thursday gave a boost to anti-mining activism by vetoing thePosco project in Orissa and also said that bauxite mining cannot be allowed just because the mineral deposits are under the houses of poor tribals.

Deo, who as Congress MP successfully lobbied against bauxite mining in his constituency in Vishakhapatnam, hailed the decision to stop Vedanta in Niyamgiri hills and even vetoed Posco in Orissa. "I am thankful to Rahul Gandhi for stopping Vedanta. Niyamgiri hills are sacred for locals and the source of two rivers which pass through my constituency Araku. My people would have suffered if mining was allowed there," he told TOI.

Deo's words are set to add to the fresh "development vs welfare" debate, with another minister sceptical of mining in restive tribal pockets. The minister, hailing from the family of tribal chiefs, slammed Orissa chief minister Navin Patnaik for pushing projects at the cost of the rights of tribals and forest dwellers. "That is the reason for unrest among tribals," he warned.

"It is not the fault of tribals if the rarest minerals are found under their houses. Would Navin Patnaik give his house for mining if there were minerals under it, or for that matter would Lutyen's Delhi be dug up. You cannot take up land for mining just because it involves poor tribals whose land rights have not been recognized," he said.

Marking his priorities as minister, Deo said he would take stock of implementation of the Forest Rights Act, saying it had to be implemented before any development project can be considered by displacing locals. "Only then a proposal can be considered and proper rehabilitation of locals has to be ensured," he said.

These words are unlikely to provide succour to the Orissa chief minister who is battling the Centre and Congress resistance to mega projects he has tried to commission. While the Centre turned down the Niyamgiri mining, Posco is facing hurdles from villagers opposing land acquisition. Congress has thrown its weight behind them -- from Union minister Jairam Ramesh to AICC incharge Jagdish Tytler, the party has warned the state against use of force.

The suave Deo is known for his opposition to mining in tribal areas. While Centre and state were about to give licences for bauxite mining in Araku, the MP lobbied against it. "Mining in Araku would have killed the source of four rivers and affected water supply to Vishakhapatnam and Vizianagaram and other satellite towns, while bringing misery to locals," he said.

The Times of India, 15 July, 2011, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/developmental-issues/New-tribal-minister-opposes-Posco-project/articleshow/9230447.cms


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