Dongria Kondhs of Kesaripadi and Serakapadi in Rayagada district had voted against the project in the gram sabhas

The villagers of Tadijhola in Kalahandi district of Odisha rejected the proposal for bauxite mining in Niyamgiri hills on Tuesday, becoming the third gram sabha to do so.

Three-hour-long sabha was attended by 33 of 36 adult voters from Kesarpadi.

The mines, to open on Tuesday, promise 120,000 tonnes of bauxite supplies every month.

With the tribals of Niyamgiri hilly region in Kalahandi district rejecting the proposal for bauxite mining in the first Gram Sabha held on Thursday last in Rayagada district, the outcome of the sec

lanjigarh : Thirty two voters from the remote Kesarpadi village, part of the adjoining district of Rayagada, are expected to participate in the second Gram Sabha on Monday for deciding on allowing

The first of the 12 gram sabhas held at Serkapadi village under Muniguda block in Rayagada district on Thursday to decide the fate of mining in Niyamgiri hills brought no cheer for Vedanta Aluminiu

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.

State govt had decided to organise gram sabhas in 12 villages, including five in Kalahandi district

The Rayagada district administration has received 129 objections from five out of seven villages in the district identified by the state government for holding of gram sabhas to decide the fate of a bauxite mining project at Niyamgiri. Of these, 40 objections have been filed by individuals.