Bhawanipatna: Thousands of tribal people chose to mark World Tribal Day on Monday by protesting against the proposed mining project at Khandualmali hill in Odisha’s Kalahandi district.
The tribals, who came together under the banner of Khandualmali Surakhya Samiti, formed a human chain in Kalahandi’s Karlapat region and sang songs to demand that the hill be saved from mining.
The tribals consider Khandualmali hill, located in the heart of Karlapat forest, to be the abode of Kondh Goddess, Khandual. The hill is surrounded by Karlapat wildlife sanctuary.
The tribals, holding placards and banners, took out a rally from Saisurni to Karlapat village and raised slogans claiming that the hill belongs to them and nobody else should try to enter the region.
One of the protesters, a woman holding her baby, held a placard which stated that without gram sabhas, stop leasing the mines.
B Kumar, president of Khandualmali Surakhya Samiti, said that the hill is being protected by tribals since 1988 as it’s their home and provides livelihood.
“But now private companies are trying to mine the hill. The Khandualmali hill’s flora and fauna along with tribals’ livelihood will be destroyed if mining is allowed,” he complained.
Lingaraj Azad, convenor of Niyamgiri Surakhya Samiti, opined that the government should hold gram sabhas in the region if it wants to mine the hill.
“The apex court’s decision to hold gram sabhas in Niyamgiri hill located in Kalahndi’s Lanjigarh block protected thousands of tribals lives. We want gram sabhas here also, on the issue of mining in Khandualmali hill,” he stated.
Environmentalist Prafulla Samantra said the government is not implementing the PESA Act here, and that around 300 rivers flowing through Karlapat region, 10 lakh trees along with elephant corridor will be destroyed if mining takes place.
“We want the government to withdraw its decision to mine here,” Samantra said. He added that the agitation will be intensified if the mining proposal is not withdrawn.
Uma Dei, a 65-year-old tribal resident of Karlapat, vowed not to allow mining in the hill.
“I have been living here since birth and earn my livelihood here. The government should have thought of my bread before leasing the hills for mining. I will die here but not allow the hill for mining at any cost.”
