BackNiyamgiri: Odisha Mining Corporation moves SC against gram sabhas’ decision
A bench led by chief justice T.S. Thakur has agreed to hear the case next week
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New Delhi: State government owned Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) on Thursday moved the Supreme Court challenging the decision of 12 gram sabhas in the state rejecting the bauxite mining proposal in the region.
A bench led by chief justice T.S. Thakur has agreed to hear the case next week.
The gram sabhas rejected the company’s proposal citing that the hill range is sacred for the tribals.
An April 18 order of the Supreme Court had directed the gram sabhas of the two districts to decide in three months issues relating to the mining project and tribals residing in the area.
Through an interim order, the apex court identified 12 hill slope villages (5 in Kalahandi and 7 in Rayagada districts), the application stated, adding that not many fresh claims have been filed before the gram sabhas within the stipulated period (six weeks from the date of the judgment) in view of the remoteness of the villages.
Vedanta Aluminium (VAL) had proposed to source bauxite for its alumina refinery project in the Niyamgiri region. OMC is now seeking to mine in the region independently.
Note: This story has been changed to remove earlier errors.
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