lok Shakti Abhiyan convenor Prafulla Samantara on Wednesday said he would soon meet Governor SC Jamir to seek his intervention in implementing the Supreme Court’s guidelines on the Niyamgiri mining issue in letter and spirit.
Addressing a Press conference here, Samantara said, “The State Government is not following in true spirit the apex court’s guidelines, according to which the inhabitants living in and around 10 km of the Niyamgiri Hills would be included in the Gram Sabhas.
“Though there are nearly 162 villages in the Niyamgiri Hills spreading over Kalahandi and Rayagada districts, the State Government has notified to hold Gram Sabhas at only 12 villages which clearly expose the Government’s intentions,” alleged Samantara.
Notably, the Supreme Court has directed the State Government to hold Gram Sabhas in the villages to seek locals’ views on bauxite mining by the Vedanta Aluminium limited. “We will meet the Governor and seek his intervention to ensure that the Supreme Court’s verdict is being implemented properly,” said Samantara. He also welcomed the National Green Tribunal’s order to stop felling of trees in the Posco project area.