Eight Tribal Organizations for Vedanta - PIL against MoEF order

In a demonstration of local support for the alumina refinery project of Vedanta Aluminium Ltd (VAL), eight tribal organizations of Lanjigarh have submitted writ petitions to the Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court, opposing the decision of the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) to stall the expansion of the refinery.

VAL had proposed to scale up the capacity of its alumina refinery from one million tonne per annum (mtpa) to six mtpa which was quashed by the MoEF.

The tribal organizations which have submitted the petition are Niyamgiri Vedanta Nagar ( Rehabilitation Colony)-Lanjigarh; Lanjigarh Anchalika Bikash Parishad-Lanjigarh;Nabin Vikash Trust-Bisamcuttack in Rayagada district; Unnayan Anchalika Samiti-Lanjigarh; Alumina Refinery Labour Union-Lanjigarh; Niyamgiri Adivasi Vikash Parishad; Shakti Organisation- Rayagda and Kuii Bikash Parishad at Kurli in Rayagada district.

In an unprecedented move, hundreds of tribals of Lanjigarh and its peripheral villages came to Cuttack to appeal against the MoEF order in the Orissa High Court.

Backing VAL's expansion project, they stated that it is because of the refinery project of VAL that hundreds of locals could earn their livelihood either directly or indirectly. They also claimed the project has enabled them to live a life of dignity and integrate the tribals with the mainstream.

"The all-round development has been initiated in the villages because of VAL's project, resulting in raising the standard of education, medical facilities, infrastructure facilities, thereby giving confidence and assurance to the locals of Lanjigarh", they stated in their petition.

The petitioners argued that post the expansion of the refinery, the company could have spent Rs 80-100 crore per year on peripheral development which can provide livelihood opportunities for everyone in the area.

Owing to stalling of expansion work of the refinery by the MoEF, the tribals now fear that they would not be in a position to repay their loans.