Villagers demand plant before mine

KORAPUT: Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) members of Laxmipur, Dasmanthpur and Kashipur blocks of the district have demanded that aluminium plant be set up before operating Kodingamali bauxite mines during a public hearing held at Koraput town on Friday.

Sources said the Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) has a proposal to operate  Kodingamali bauxite mines shortly. But the villagers, including PRI members, have demanded that the plant be set up to which the bauxite would be supplied. They also demanded employment opportunities for local youths.
The villagers said about 2000 acres of land were acquired by the district administration for Aditya Aluminium to set up a refinery plant. During a public hearing at Bhalujodi in 2007, the administration had assured to provide employment to locals in the plant. It also promised to start functioning of the plant within five years. But nothing has been done in this regard so far, they alleged.

Earlier, they had met Collector Anupam Saha over the matter and demanded that no mining will be allowed without a plant in the area. Villagers said Kodingamali is the only source of their livelihood as it provides spring water to their agricultural lands. Though there would be no displacement from Kodingamali, they will be affected due to mines, they added.

The Collector said the State Government has been apprised of the matter and steps are being taken to develop the area with several projects on education, health, road connectivity and drinking water.
Locals from 36 villages, including PRI members, attended the meeting chaired by the Collector. OMC Deputy Director Hemant Singh was also present.