Odisha calls gram sabha meetings on Vedanta plant

The Odisha government has issued notices to district collectors of Kalahandi and Rayagada to call gram sabha meetings in 12 villages around the Niyamgiri hills to decide the proposed bauxite mining for Vedanta Group’s alumina plant as per the order of the Supreme Court.

The Odisha government has issued notices to district collectors of Kalahandi and Rayagada to call gram sabha meetings in 12 villages around the Niyamgiri hills to decide the proposed bauxite mining for Vedanta Group’s alumina plant as per the order of the Supreme Court.

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In a communication on Monday evening, the Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste department said the process of conducting the gram sabhas should be completed within three months as stipulated by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court, in its order on April 18, said the decision of these gram sabhas was crucial on the issue of whether mining should be allowed in the hill — home to nearly 10,000 Dangria Kondh tribals.