Hindalco faces stiff resistance Statesman News Service
KORAPUT, 28 OCT: The Mali Parvat Surakshya Samiti reaffirmed its stand of not allowing mining activities in the hill range here, unless companies like Hindalco conceded to the various demands of the local people.
The Mali Parvat in Semiliguda block of Koraput district will not be destroyed, asserted members of the Samiti at a meeting held at Doiambo village here today. The meeting was attended by hundreds of tribals, women and panchayati raj representatives of the affected villages.
The struggle to protect the hills from the greed of MNCs had begun since 2003 as people living in and around 22 villages of Daleiguda, Pakhjhola, Khudi and Sorishapadar panchayats had protested said Mr Arjun Khilo, president of the Samiti.
Hindalco had, however, commenced some activity recently. It has started work on roads in the area. Mr Khilo insisted that the Samiti will indulge in peaceful resistance to the project.
The mountain range is the lifeline for hundreds of people. It is a source of livelihood for tribals and its streams facilitate cultivation in the area, said the Samiti members.
They pointed out that people who were once displaced from Sunabeda region in the district for establishing HAL also were living in the affected zone. It will be the second time that these people will be displaced, they said .
Majority of the people living in the affected villages depend on forest products and it the hills are mined and forests destroyed, the livelihood of locals will be adversely affected said Mr Dambarudhar Khilo, another leader of the Surakhya Samiti.
Some of the leaders, however, said that mining operations will be allowed only if the refinery and plant are established in the area and jobs are provided to local people.
The Samiti will submit a memorandum to the district collector in this regard demanding that all activities of Hindalco be stopped, said Mr Arjun Khilo. |
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