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: 150
 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: 151
 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]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Success for Adivasis in India

Success for Adivasis in India

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Jan 3, 2011   modified Modified on Jan 3, 2011

Bauxite Mining of the sacred hill of Adivasis in Lanjigarh, Kalahandi district, Orissa, had been stopped by a decision of the India Ministry for Environment and Forest (MoE&F) on August 24th, 2010. Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh had constituted an enquiry panel – which in its report recommends that bauxite mining in Niyamgiri hills should not be allowed for mining unless the local Adivasi communities give their consent.

According to this report, the mining company, Vedanta Aluminium Limited  – a UK based company - “consistently violated the Forest Conservation Act (FCA), Forest Reserve Act (FRA), Environment Protection Act (EPA) and the Orissa Forest Act in active collusion with the state officials.” The report also noted that the said forest land cannot be diverted unless village councils clear the proposal according to the respective law applicable in the concerned area.

The Minister has also questioned the legality of the massive alumina refinery, Vedanta has already built below the hills, saying that “the company M/s Vedanta Alumina Limited has already proceeded with construction activity for its expansion project … without obtaining environmental clearance.…. This amounts to a serious violation of the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act.”

The Adivasis are solely dependent on these hills and the forests for their livelihood. Eviction and alienation from their land means hunger and starvation for them. Mining and refining bauxite causes also drying up rivers, streams and ground water in the area and toxic waste from the refinery is leaching into the soil making it infertile and useless.

Environmental Minister Jairam Ramesh states: “The blatant disregard displayed by the project proponents with regard to rights of the tribals and primitive tribal groups dependant on the area for their livelihood, as they have proceeded to seek clearance is shocking”.

The decision of the Ministry is to be seen in light of a joined campaign of different organizations, of which FIAN was part, having intervened with letter campaigns and other means of advocacy.

Further Information:

Saxena Report to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/Saxena_Vedanta.pdf

Report Minister Jairam Ramesh of Ministry of Environment and Forests  http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/Vedanta-24082010.pdf

FIAN Open Letter to Supreme Court of India
Amnesty International Report: India: Don't mine us out of existence: Bauxite mine and refinery devastate lives in India  http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA20/001/2010/en

Survival International’s film ‘Mine: Story of a Sacred Mountain’ depicts the struggle of the Dongria Kondh tribe of Orissa, to save their sacred mountain from Vedanta Resources’ proposed open pit bauxite mine http://www.survivalinternational.org/films/mine


FIAN, 17 December, 2010, http://www.fian.org/news/news/success-for-adivasis-in-india


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close