The Congress on Tuesday criticised the Modi government over ongoing protests by villagers in Odisha’s Koraput district against a proposed bauxite mining project, alleging violations of legal provisions governing forest land and tribal rights.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said villagers were protesting against attempts to secure clearances for bauxite mining by allegedly bypassing legal safeguards. He urged Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram to examine why such agitations were emerging in different parts of Odisha.
According to Ramesh, protesters have accused Kalinga Alumina Ltd of illegally diverting nearly 400 acres of forest land. He claimed that the affected communities possess traditional and spiritual rights over the land, which are protected under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
The Congress alleged that any diversion of forest land without proper compliance with the Forest Rights Act would undermine the rights of tribal communities and forest dwellers. The party called for strict adherence to legal procedures and protection of the rights guaranteed to indigenous communities.
The issue has sparked fresh debate over mining projects, environmental clearances and the implementation of tribal rights laws in resource-rich regions of the country.
