UK mining group Vedanta should not be given permission for a bauxite mine in the east Indian state of Orissa, a government report has found.
Allowing mining in the proposed area would deprive two tribes of their rights, says the report commissioned by India’s environment minister, writes BBC online Tuesday.
Vedanta’s plans to extract bauxite from a hill revered by a tribal community have caused controversy, but the company said it would abide by a final government decision.
Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said the report would be considered by the Forest Advisory Committee on 20 August, after which he would rule on the plan. It is unlikely the minister will go against the finding.
The report said: “The committee is of the firm view that allowing mining in the proposed mining lease area by depriving two primitive tribal groups – Kutia and Dongaria Kondh – of their rights over the proposed mining site in order to benefit a private company (Vedanta) would shake the faith of tribal people in the laws of the land.”
It concluded the mine would destroy some 7 square kilometers of forest land and threaten the tribe’s survival.
The findings also accused the company of illegally occupying forest land with the alleged collusion of local officials, despite not getting government clearance for its project.
