The tribals of Niyamgiri hills on Monday unanimously rejected the beleaguered proposal of bauxite mining in the seventh Palli Sabha held at Phuldumer village in Kalahandi district. The vote of the Dongrias, Kutias and Jharnia tribes against mining in the hills was a major jolt to the Vedanta Company which had aimed to mine bauxite for its aluminium plant at lanjigarh in the district.
Out of the total 68 voters, 49 voters participated in the meeting. Out of the total voters participated in the meeting, 10 tribals aired their voice at the Palli Sabha where a resolution was passed against mining.
“Niyamgiri is everything for us; we can’t leave it. We will fight with the company or whoever comes for mining in the hills,” said a Dongria woman of Phuldumer village.
Additional District Judge (Vigilance) of Kalahandi Pramod Kumar Jena, who was appointed by the Supreme Court as the observer for the Palli Sabha, was present during the whole deliberation. Jena said that the tribals strongly denied mining in the hills. “The tribals said that Niyamgiri is their father, mother and god. They can’t leave it to anyone,” said Jena.