Pointing out that green nod for Mahan Coal Block in Madhya Pradesh is a “blatant breach” of Forest Rights Act, Union Tribal Affairs Minister V Kishore Chandra Deo has written to Chief Minister Shiv

In a setback to Anil Agarwal's Vedanta Aluminium (VAL), all 36 residents who participated in the first gram sabha meeting at Serkapadi village of Rayagada district on Thursday rejected a proposal

Gram Sabhas will also consider the religious and cultural rights of Dongaria Kondhs residing on Niyamgiri hills

With the gram sabhas in 12 villages identified by the state government to decide the fate of a bauxite mining project at Niyamgiri all set to begin on Thursday, the district administrations of Kalahandi and Raygada have received as many as 64 forest right claims (both individual and community) for validation at these vallge meetings.

Ahead of the gram sabhas to decide the fate of bauxite mining in Niyamgiri hills, the Kalahandi district administration has received only four fresh claims under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.

With the dates for gram sabhas to decide the fate of Vedanta's plan to mine Niyamgiri hills drawing closer, tribals have intensified their campaign against the proposed move.

Tribal affairs ministry’s advice to include more villages ignored

The Odisha government will conduct gram sabhas in 12 villages of Kalahandi and Rayagada districts between July 18 and August 19 to decide fate of the proposed bauxite mining for Vedanta atop Niyamgiri hills despite objections by the union tribal affairs ministry.

The govt notification should be withdrawn and the people should be given free hand to conduct the gram sabhas

With the dates for holding of gram sabhas in villages on the Niyamgiri hill slopes approaching, various social organisations opposing the bauxite mining project there have intensified their protest over the issue.

Will decide the fate of bauxite extraction from the ecologically sensitive hills

The Odisha government has decided to go ahead with its previous decision to hold gram sabhas in 12 villages on the Niyamgiri hill slopes in Rayagada and Kalahandi districts to decide the fate of bauxite extraction from the ecologically sensitive hills.

Ignoring objections by the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the Odisha government on Friday announced dates for conducting Gram Sabhas in 12 villages of Kalahandi and Rayagada districts to decide

The AG is likely to give his comments on the matter in a couple of days

The Odisha tribal affairs department has consulted the state advocate general (AG) on the possibility of expanding purview of gram sabhas to decide the fate of bauxite excavation atop Niyamgiri hills.