Congress welcomes verdict on Niyamgiri Hills mining

Bhubaneswar: The Supreme Court's judgement of stalling Vedanta's proposed bauxite mining in Niyamgiri Hills today evoked mixed response in Odisha with opposition Congress welcoming it while the state government said it would wait for a copy of the verdict.

The apex court earlier in the day has stalled the bauxite mining in Niyamgiri Hills till gram sabhas in the districts of Kalahandi and Rayagada have given their approval. [caption id="attachment_710354" align="alignleft" width="380"]

A general view of the Vedanta aluminum refinery at Lanjigarh, in the foothills of Niyamgiri hills in Orissa's Kalahandi district. AFP[/caption]

"We'll await the report of the apex court. We do not have the report yet," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told reporters on the sideline of a function in Bhubaneswar.

BJP state chief KV Singhdeo said, "The state government should respect the SC's judgement and hold gram sabas in the affected areas without further delay."

Union Minister of State, Chemicals and Fertiliser Srikant Jena and Congress MP Pradeep Majhi said "it is a historic judgement. The apex court has reaffirmed tribals' rights on natural resources like land, water, forest and hills.

Majhi said they were opposed to mining in Niyamgiri Hills.

"But, we have no problem if Vedanta is allowed to undertake bauxite mining in other places."

Jena also said, "I believe that the tribal people will also oppose mining in Niyamgiri Hills at the gram sabhas. I demand scarping of the agreement between the state government and Vedanta for mining in Niyamgiri Hills."

PTI