The villages of Dongriya Kondh tribals around Odisha's Niyamgiri hills are set to become a flash point again, with the Centre and the state government along with civil society groups planning to co

The refinery, which since inception has run on bauxite obtained from external sources, has been shut since Dec 5 last year for the want of raw material

The Odisha law department will submit its views on the Supreme Court (SC) order on Niyamgiri bauxite mining in 2-3 days, paving the way for the government to hold gram sabhas that will decide if mining activity can take place there.

House panel approves provision in mining bill requiring a miner to disburse an amount equal to the royalty earned by the govt

AParliamentary panel that examined the proposed new Mining Bill has recommended that coal and lignite miners too be asked to share an amount equivalent to the royalty they pay to the government with the project affected people as against the proposed 26% of profit they make.
A clause in the new Bill had proposed that miners of major minerals like iron ore and bauxite contribute an amount equal to royalty towards a “district mineral foundation (DMF)”, and coal and lignite mines part with 26% of profits towards compensating the project affected. The industry is opposed to this proposal, saying that this would, in effect, take mining tax in the country to 69-70%, the highest in the world.

In a follow up to the Supreme Court order empowering the village committees (palli sabha) to decide the fate of bauxite mining project in Niyamgiri hills, the Union ministry of tribal affairs (MoTA) has asked the Odisha government to take necessary steps to create awareness about holding of palli sabhas.

The ministry has asked the state SC and ST department to issue advertisements in local newspapers informing all tribals and traditional forest dwellers in Kalahandi and Raygada districts to file claims of religious and cultural rights, along with the individual and community rights under the Forest Right Act.

With the clock ticking, the tribal affairs ministry has set the ball rolling for village assemblies or gram sabhas to decide on allowing Vedanta to source bauxite from the Niyamgiri hills, consider

The project opponents didn't allow peaceful conduct of hearing by State Pollution Control Board, forcing the district authorities to adjourn hearing

The public hearing on the environment impact assessment (EIA) for the proposed Rs 4,500-crore alumina refinery project of RSB Metaltech Pvt Ltd in south Odisha’s Rayagada district was disrupted on Wednesday as several project opponents stormed the venue at Kiapadu, some 25 km from Rayagada town.

The inter-ministerial committee on ore linkage to industries within the State on a sustainable manner will request the State Government for more time to submit its report.

The Supreme Court judgment last week directing Orissa to hold gram sabha meetings in Kalahandi and Rayagada districts over whether bauxite mining can be allowed in the Niyamgiri mountains has opene