CG-MINING-PROTEST

Tribals continue protest against mining on hill in C'garh
    Dantewada, Jun 10 (PTI) Hundreds of tribals in
Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district continued their agitation
for the fourth day on Monday against mining on a hill which
they worship as a deity.
    The hill is situated in the Bailadila iron ore mining
area belonging to the state-owned National Mineral Development
Corporation (NMDC).
    The protest has disrupted mining activities in three
iron ore deposits of the NMDC in Kirandul, an official said.
    Braving scorching heat, tribals from some 200 villages
of Dantewada, Sukma and Bijapur districts, under the aegis of
the Sanyukt Panchayat Samiti, have been sitting on the protest
in front of NMDC's Kirandul facility since June 7.
    The protesters, wielding bow and arrows, want the
authorities concerned to abandon plans to mine the iron ore
deposit no. 13.
    "We have been agitating since last four days but have
not yet got any assurance from the authorities," said Mangal
Kunjam, said a protesting tribal leader.
    As per the mining plan, over 25,000 trees will be cut
in the area. So far, 10,000 threes have been chopped off. This
will adversely affect the environment, Kunjam claimed.
    "We will not allow mining on our sacred hill which is
worshiped as our deity, at any cost," he said, adding that the
protest will be continued till the demand is not fulfilled.
    The hill is revered as the shrine of Pitod Devi, wife
of nature god Nandraj.
    Leaders from the Congress and Janata Congress
Chhattisgarh (J) have extended support to the protest.
    According to an NMDC spokesperson, the production of
iron ore has been stalled in its three mines in Kirandul area
due to the ongoing agitation while extraction in remaining two
mines in the adjacent Bacheli area is unaffected.
    The 10 MTPA capacity Bailadila iron ore deposit-13 at
Kirandul is being developed by a joint venture company, called
NCL, formed by NMDC and the Chhattisgarh Mineral Development
Corporation.
    A contract for excavation and mine development was
awarded to Adani Enterprises Limited last year, officials
said, adding that currently tree-cutting was underway to build
an approach road to the site.
    Meanwhile, state forest minister Mohammad Akbar on
Monday said he did not give permission to cut trees in deposit
no. 13 and that the nod was granted in January last year
during the previous BJP government.
    To a query he said, "We will seek information in the
matter and further action will be taken accordingly."
    NCL's Chief Executive Officer V S Prabhakar earlier
said his company was the owner of deposit no.13 and its mining
lease was registered with the joint venture firm.
    "The mining lease will not be transferred to Adani or
to anyone else at any point of time. Any propaganda in this
regard is condemned. Even after mining starts, the tribals can
offer prayers there. Their religious rights will not be
affected," he said. PTI COR TKP
GK GK