Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 73
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 74
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
Notice (8): Undefined variable: urlPrefix [APP/Template/Layout/printlayout.ctp, line 8]latest-news-updates/palli-sabha-k039handi-tribals-too-say-no039-to-mining-ajit-panda-22087.html"/> LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Palli Sabha: K'handi tribals too say ‘no' to mining-Ajit Panda | Im4change.org
Resource centre on India's rural distress
 
 

Palli Sabha: K'handi tribals too say ‘no' to mining-Ajit Panda
-The Pioneer


BHAWANIPATNA (Bhubaneswar): The Palli Sabha of Tadijhola village in Trilochanpur Gram Panchayat of Kalahandi held on Tuesday unanimously declared that the villagers would not allow mining in the Niyamgiri Hills.

"Niyam Raja is our father and Niyamgiri hills, our mother. Hence, we will not allow Vedanta to snatch it from us," said every villagers of Tadijhola present in the meeting. Out of 22 voters of the village, 19 were present in the meeting and nine of them were women. Sugri Gauda (87), who is blind and crippled due to old age, also came to the meeting leaning on a stick and said, "I will not leave Niyamgiri, come what may."

Additional District Judge (Vigilance) of Kalahandi Pramod Kumar Jen, who was appointed by the Supreme Court as the observer for the Palli Sabha, was present during the whole deliberation. The meeting was presided over by Ward Member Ramu Majhi.

"Vedanta is coming with the Netas (leaders) to displace us and employing Gundas (goons) to threaten us. When we are opposing Vedanta, we are being labeled as Maoists. If fighting for one's right is the act of a Maoist, then we are Maoists," contended the participants in the meeting.

All the villagers of Tadijhola village are non-tribals. The administration was expecting that the villagers would place their claims under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006. The Sarpanch of the Gram Panchayat had given notice in advance to the villagers to remain present in the Palli Sabha to decide the individual and community claims, religious, cultural and worshipping rights of the tribals and traditional forest dwellers on Niyamgiri. But there was no claim by the villagers.

It was interesting to note that the notice issued by the administration had stated about the rights of the tribals and forest dwellers over Niyamraja which is located near a place called Hundukali. "The Palli Sabha would examine whether the mining would impact upon the abode of the Niyam Raja of Niyam Dongar (hill), which is located at a distance of 10 km from the peak of the Niyamgiri hill range - the identified mining area of Vedanta," the notice said. But the people of the village clearly said that they have their religious, cultural and worshipping rights over the entire Niyamgiri hill range.

"The meeting was peaceful and transparent. You have seen what people have told. We will submit our report to the SC," said the ADJ. The people demanded a copy of the proceeding of Palli Sabha before signing the proceeding. "We will not sign the proceeding unless a copy is given to us," they said. A copy of the proceeding was thus made instantly and given. Sarpanch of the Gram Panchayat Timu Majhi and Tehsildar and BDO of Lanjigarh were present. More than 500 villagers of the nearby villages of Kalahandi and Koraput districts witnessed the proceeding.