The State Government on Monday asked the District Collectors of Kalahandi and Rayagada to formally conduct Gram Sabha in 12 tribal villages, which will be affected by the possible bauxite mining in Niyamgiri hills. A notification to this effect was issued by the Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Cast Development (SSD) Department.
According to official sources, as per the order of the Supreme Court, the authorities in the two districts were asked to complete the process of holding the Gram Sabha in the 12 villages as recommended by the law Department.
The Gram Sabha would decide as to whether to take up bauxite mining activity in Niyamgiri hills. During the hearing, the opinion of the affected tribal population would be recorded relating to their religious and cultural rights concerning the presiding deity Niyam Raja in the hill.
In its April 18 verdict on the Niyamgiri bauxite mining lease case of the Vedanta Group, the Supreme Court had directed the State Government that the clearance to the project would be subject to the Gram Sabha deciding the cultural and religious claims of the Scheduled Tribes and traditional forest dwellers of Kalahandi and Rayagada districts. The court had given six weeks time for compliance.
The State Government expedited the process to clear the confusion in the apex court’s order by referring the issue of the Gram Sabha to the law Department, which recommended conduct of the Gram Sabha limiting to 12 tribal villages and after the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs shot off a letter to the SSD Department, urging to take steps to comply the Supreme Court’s order.
The Union Tribal Affairs Ministry had also told the SSD Department to issue advertisements in local newspapers informing all tribals and traditional forest dwellers in Kalahandi and Rayagada districts to file claims of religious and cultural rights, along with the individual and community rights under Forest Right Act (FRA).
The Ministry had also asked to display the notification on holding of the Gram Sabha along with the details of the Supreme Court order in all villages in the two districts irrespective of their proximity from the mining site in the local language for their understanding.
Besides, a copy of such notification should be sent to all the civil societies and NGOs that are active in these two districts, so that complete transparency is maintained in the identification of claims, the Tribal Affairs Department had said.
In its notification, the Scheduled Cast Development (SSD) Department had also asked the district authorities to display the notification on the holding of Gram Sabha in respective villages much earlier in local language for their information.