Disapproving of the State Govt’s decision to conduct Palli Sabhas in only 12 villages of Rayagada and Kalahandi districts for a consensus on mining in Niyamgiri hills, the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has constituted a team to assess claims beyond these 12 villages. The MoTA team is scheduled to visit Rayagada and Kalahandi districts from August 4 to 8. The team would consist of MoTA Deputy Secretary Gopal Sadhwani, legal expert Shomona Khanna, MoTA consultant Sreetama Guptabhaya and two representatives of Vasundhara, a Bhubaneswar-based civil society organisation, Tushar Dash and Y Giri Rao.
The MoTA has sent a letter to this effect to the Chief Secretary and asked for arrangements for the purpose. The team would submit report to Secretary MoTA, sources said.