Odisha is a hub of mining loot and the State and Centre are equally responsible for it," said activist and lawyer Prashant Bhushan here on Sunday. He urged the people to come forward to save the vast natural resources from exploitation by corporates.
Bhushan said the Odisha Government has yet not recovered around Rs 3,000 crore fine from the illegal miners. “Coalmines in the forest area and human habitats are illegally handed over to corporates, leading to huge displacement, deforestation and pollution. We can’t consume everything; we must keep required natural resources for our future generations,” he said.
“A legal notice will be served within 7 days to the Odisha Government to return back land to the Puri people, illegally acquired for Vedanta University and within a limited time, if land will not be returned as per Supreme Court order, then contempt petition will be filed,” clarified Bhushan.
Former MLA Uma Ballav Rath congratulated Bhushan for his continuous legal efforts to save the natural resources of the country. “By handing over vast land of Lord Jagannath to Vedanta, the Government had pushed the people of Puri to be the “Praja” of Vedanta,” he criticised.
Senior leader Jagarnath Pattanaik called for a mass movement to protect land , forest water and other natural resources for the future generation.
Among others, senior leaders Niranjan Patnaik, Bhajman Behera, Sashmita Behera and social activist Padma Charan Naik were present.