Nalco’s Mining Project: ITDA Holds Gram Sabha To Cover 9 Villages In Odisha’s Koraput

Koraput: The Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) of the district on Wednesday conducted the gram sabha covering nine villages on Nalco’s proposed mining work in Pottangi block.

According to sources, the villagers from Malkarabanda, Sipaiput, Erasantaguda, Katraguda, Pottangi, Sisaguda, Katraguda, Madamgandhi, Thuria and Karanjaguda villages under Pottangi and Kotia tehsils participated in the gram sabha that was held in amicable condition.

Earlier, the Odisha State Pollution Control Board and district administration had conducted public hearing on the project in December last year.

Holding the gram sabhas to know the response of the people to be affected by the project has been made mandatory for conversion of land allotted to Nalco for undertaking mining activities.

However, the sources said there would be no displacement for the Nalco’s mining activity in Pottangi and the Central PSU would adopt sustainable mining practices with effective environment management.

It may be noted that the Nalco has been mining the bauxite from its existing Panchpatmali mines to feed its refinery. It needs additional sources of bauxite for the company’s proposed expansion plans. The production capacity of bauxite from Pottangi mine is 3.5 MTPA.