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