New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: The Centre has formally notified development of a dedicated railway line, connecting Sijimali and Kutrumali bauxite mines, to strengthen the mineral transportation network in mineral-rich regions of Odisha.
The April 21 notification of the Ministry of Railways accorded ‘Special Railway Project’ status to the new BG line connecting Tikiri station with Kutrumali and Sijimali bauxite mines on Waltair Division of East Coast railway.
This comes two weeks after Kantamal in Rayagada witnessed a pitched battle between villagers and police over a 3-km road from Purulang to Sagabari Ghati, intended to facilitate access for mining operations at Sijimali, which left 70 people, including 58 cops, injured. The tribal communities of Kantamal and neighbouring Sagabari have been protesting against road construction and mining plans over fears of displacement, ecological damage and the erosion of their way of life.
Two MPs from Odisha have also voiced serious concerns over escalating tensions linked to the proposed bauxite mining operations in the Sijimali hills region spanning Rayagada and Kalahandi districts. They have called for a thorough review of all statutory clearances granted for the projects, while ensuring proper recognition of tribal and community forest rights alongside ecological safeguards.
Sijimali block, with an estimated reserve of 311 million tonnes of bauxite, spreads across 18 villages in Thuamul Rampur tehsil of Kalahandi district and eight in Kashipur tehsil of Rayagada district. It was allotted to Vedanta Limited in February 2023. Similarly, Kutrumali block, with an estimated reserve of 128 million tonnes, is located across four villages within the tehsils of Thuamul Rampur and Kashipur in the districts of Kalahandi and Rayagada, respectively. This block was allotted to Mundra Aluminium Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Enterprises in March 2023.
