The State Government will file a petition in the Supreme Court seeking six weeks to facilitate holding of Gram Sabhas to decide whether to undertake bauxite mining in the Niyamgiri hills of lanjigarh in Kalahandi district for the Vedanta company’s alumina project.
law Minister Maheswar Mohanty on Thursday held a marathon meeting with the law Secretary and other senior departmental officers on the apex court’s recent order to conduct Gram Sabhas on the Niyamgiri mining issue to give the department’s views to the administrative SC and ST Development Department.
Mohanty told reporters that it was decided to recommend to the SC and ST Development Department to conduct Gram Sabhas only in the 12 tribal villages which would be affected by the possible mining in the Niyamgiri hill ranging from lanjigarh in Kalahandi up to Rayagada district.
However, he said that since the six weeks’ time as fixed by the apex court would not suffice to meet the deadline to complete the holding of Gram Sabhas and submit a detailed report to the court, the law Department would recommend to the administrative department to file a petition seeking at least six weeks more to complete the legal process.
The SC and ST Department would take the necessary steps in this regard, he said, adding that during the hearing the opinion of the affected tribal population would be recorded in respect of their religious and cultural rights concerning the presiding deity Niyam Raja in the Niyaamgiri hill.
Mohanty said the Supreme Court’s order is not clear as to in how many villages the Gram Sabhas would be held. Since there is confusion on the issue, the administrative department has sought the views of the law Department.
Meanwhile, the Sate Government’s counsel has given his views on the April 18 Supreme Court order for the examination of the law Department.
The State Government has expedited the process to clear the confusion over the apex court’s order only after the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs shot off a letter to the State SC & ST Department urging it to take steps to comply with the court order.
The Tribal Affairs Ministry has told the SC and ST 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 the Forest Rights Act.
In its verdict, the Supreme Court has held that clearance to the Vedanta project would be subject to the Gram Sabhas deciding the cultural and religious claims of the tribals and traditional forest-dwellers within a period of three months.