Bhawanipatna: In less than two months, tribal groups and residents of Kalahandi district have again requested Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to convene the long-pending Gram Sabha for Lanjigarh Bauxite Mine.
A delegation from the Lanjigarh Anchalika Vikas Parishad submitted a memorandum to the CM, highlighting that Kalahandi had remained underdeveloped despite possessing some of the world’s finest bauxite reserves, on Friday.
The Gram Sabha has been pending for 21 years.
It further stated that the region has been denied the 5 per cent development fund that could enhance infrastructure, healthcare, and education due to non-operationalisation of mine. It also mentioned about absence of industries, particularly in the Trilochanpur region of Kalahandi.
Neighbouring districts like Rayagada and Koraput have witnessed substantial industrial growth, improvement in infrastructure, and an increase in job opportunities due to active bauxite mining, whereas Kalahandi remains deprived of the benefits of its natural resources, it added.
In January, a similar appeal was submitted through the Collector and BDO, highlighting the urgent need to start the mining operations for ensuring uninterrupted supply of bauxite mines to the Lanjigarh alumina refinery.
