INDIA’S ENVIRONMENT minister yesterday vetoed a controversial mining project that threatened the survival of one of the country’s most isolated tribes.
Jairam Ramesh rejected the proposal by multinational Vedanta, owned by London-based Indian businessman Anil Agarwal, to build an open-cast bauxite mine in the Niyamgiri Hill range in Orissa state.
“There have been serious violations of environment protection acts,” Mr Ramesh said in rejecting Vedanta’s plans that could destroy heavily forested hills sacred to the 8,000-strong Dongria Kondh tribal peoples.
“There is no emotion, no politics, no prejudice. I have taken the decision in a purely legal approach,” he added.
Mr Ramesh’s decision follows the findings of an expert panel that the Vedanta project would threaten the “survival” of the Dongria Kondh, who rely on the land for their livelihood and believe the remote hills are the home to their God, Niyam Raja.
The report said the open-pit mine would “drastically alter” the region’s water supply, affecting ecological systems and human communities.
“This is an act of total contempt for the law on the part of the company and shows an appalling degree of collusion on the part of the concerned officials,” the report concluded.
The Kondh, one of India’s most isolated tribes, who believe in witch doctors, animal sacrifices and animism, have opposed plans by Vedanta’s subsidiary Sterlite to construct the massive $800 million (€630 million) open-cast mine to source bauxite since 2005.
They claim it would not only irreversibly destroy their revered mountain but also a huge swathe of surrounding jungle, the last remaining forests in the drought-prone Kalahandi district that is decidedly India’s poorest.
The mountain is also the source of the Bansadhara river vital to ensure drinking-water and irrigation to millions of people.
Vedanta argues that the mine would cause minimal degradation to the remote hills and the exploited areas would be planted with trees after mining.