With Orissa Mining Corporation's petition challenging the Centre, which imposed restrictions on bauxite from Niyamgiri Hills, scheduled for hearing at the green tribunal of Supreme Court, two outfits opposing the mining demonstrated against Vedanta Aluminium Limited at Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi district on 23rd 2012.
Kalahandi Sachetan Nagarika Mancha and Niyamgiri Surakshya Samiti jointly demonstrated in front of the collector's office.
Mr Satya Mahar convenor of Niyamgiri Surakshya Samiti said that "We have been fighting against mining at Niyamgiri in Lanjigarh from the beginning. If the hearing on OMC's petition goes in favour of Vedanta, tribal people in this area will lose more than what they have already lost. We are still strongly opposed to mining whereby the natural flora and fauna of the area will be in danger."
In March last year, OMC moved the apex court against the Union ministry of environment and forests which withdrew mining permit at the eco sensitive Niyamgiri Hills home to primitive Dongria tribes. A couple of months later, environment and forests minister Mr Jairam Ramesh also rejected Vedanta's application for expanding its refinery from 1 million tonne per annum to 6 million tonnes and its captive power plant from 75 MW to 300 MW.
An OMC official said that "The OMC's petition focused more on how MoEF could reject the proposal for mining on grounds, which were cleared by the Supreme Court. The Centre's decision is illegal and arbitrary.”