Reiterating it decision, the State Government on Friday fixed the dates to conduct gram sabha in the 12 villages covering the two districts of Rayagada and Kalahandi in the Niyamgiri hills to decide the controversial issue of bauxite mining for the Vedanta Refinery.
Announcing the dates, the Scheduled Tribe and Schedule Caste Development Minister lalbihari Himrika said that it was decided to hold gram sabhas in 12 villages on Niyamgiri hill tops as per the April 18 Supreme Court order.
While gram sabhas will be held between July 18 and August 19 in seven villages of Rayagada district, similar exercise will be done between July 23 and 30 in five villages of Kalahandi district, the Minister said.