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Tribal families on the Niyamgiri mountain in the Kalahndi district of Orissa, India, have begun campaigning against a proposed bauxite mining project on their ancestral territory.
Niyamgiri's forests are protected under Section 18 of the Indian Wildlife Act, and the Indian Supreme Court is investigating allegations that Vedanta's alumina refinery at the foot of the mountain was constructed in violation of environmental regulations and following forced evictions of the indigenous people.
According to Action Aid, it is feared the bauxite strip mining planned on the mountain's plateau will damage the hydrology of the area, putting the water supply and livelihood of the nearby 200 villages at risk. Moreover, the proposed site is sacred to the indigenous people and the source of many of their religious beliefs and cultural practices. The Central Empowered Committee of the Supreme Court stated in its report that locals 'do not cultivate on the hilltop out of respect and the hill is worshiped'.
Vedanta's associate director, Sumanth Cidambi, said: 'According to available survey reports, there is no habitation in the proposed mining site of the project at Niyamgiri'. On 6 September the Indian Supreme Court postponed its decision to another hearing.
Niyamgiri's forests are protected under Section 18 of the Indian Wildlife Act, and the Indian Supreme Court is investigating allegations that Vedanta's alumina refinery at the foot of the mountain was constructed in violation of environmental regulations and following forced evictions of the indigenous people.
According to Action Aid, it is feared the bauxite strip mining planned on the mountain's plateau will damage the hydrology of the area, putting the water supply and livelihood of the nearby 200 villages at risk. Moreover, the proposed site is sacred to the indigenous people and the source of many of their religious beliefs and cultural practices. The Central Empowered Committee of the Supreme Court stated in its report that locals 'do not cultivate on the hilltop out of respect and the hill is worshiped'.
Vedanta's associate director, Sumanth Cidambi, said: 'According to available survey reports, there is no habitation in the proposed mining site of the project at Niyamgiri'. On 6 September the Indian Supreme Court postponed its decision to another hearing.
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