The deadline for Niyamgiri tribals to file claims of religious and cultural rights, along with the individual and community rights under the Forest Right Act (FRA) ended on Sunday even as the State Government would hold Gram Sabhas in 12 villages of Kalahandi and Rayagada districts to decide the fate of Vedanta’s proposed bauxite mining in the Niyamgiri Hills.
The Rayagada administration has reportedly received 40 individual claims and 89 joint claims from seven villages likely to be affected by the proposed mining. Similarly, Kalahandi tribals have also submitted their claims to the district administration that include grievances relating to displacement within the prescribed duration of six weeks.
A forest rights committee would evaluate the claims before placing them before the Gram Sabhas set to begin from July 18, which is expected to continue till August 19. The SC has on April 18 directed the Government to hold Gram Sabhas within three months.
Meanwhile, the Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti (NSS), which is spearheading the movement against the proposed mining, expressed its opposition to Gram Sabhas “if the grievances of the tirbals are not heard”.
“We will support Gram Sabhas in 12 hill slope villages. But we will protest the meetings if the original versions of tribals are altered in any way or if they are not heard properly,” NSS covenor lingaraj Ajad said. The NSS had announced to hold Gram Sabhas in 112 villages as against Government’s decision for 12 villages.