Following the recent verdict of the Supreme Court favouring holding of Gram Sabhas on the issue of bauxite mining in the Niyamgiri Hill for the Vedanta aluminium project, the tribal leaders have now begun their strategy to have their say in the Gram Sabhas against mining.
From Friday, hundreds of tribals have undertaken a six-day Padayatra with traditional drum beats from Kalyansinghpur and Hatmuniguda of Rayagada district and Belamba village of Kalahandi district. On the first day, they covered five villages to make the people aware about the questions to be raised in the Gram Sabhas by the administrations of the two districts, over which the Niyamgiri Hill spreads.
Under the banner of the Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti, the leaders are appealing to the villagers to come forward and participate in the Gram Sabhas and voice their views in a united manner without fear. This is the last chance to save the Niyamgiri Hill, the leaders told the villagers.
The Samiti has decided to touch the inhabitants of 122 villages of Rayagada and Kalahandi districts through the Padayatra till May 22. The concluding meeting would be held at Hat Muniguda of Rayagada district.
Environmentalist Prafulla Samantara and tribal leaders of Rayagada and Kalahandi had organised a meeting in lanjigarh block fifteen days ago to support the tribals’ cause to protect Niyamgiri.
Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti president Kumuti Majhi and other leaders like lingaraj Azad, Satya Mahar, lado Sikoka and Dadhi Pusika, lawyer Sidhartha Naik have been leading the Padayatra.