Jeypore, April 22: Residents of the peripheral and affected areas of Kodinga Mali under Laxmipur block of Koraput district have approached the District Collector with a memorandum, raising strong objections to ongoing and proposed mining activities.
Raising slogans such as “No project, no mining,” “No employment, no mining,” and “Remove Vedanta, Save Kodinga Mali,” the villagers expressed their resentment against companies like Vedanta Limited and Odisha Mining Corporation. They demanded that industries be established locally before allowing further mining operations.
According to the residents, around 3 million tonnes of minerals are already being extracted from Kodinga Mali. They alleged that mining activities have caused severe problems, including a decline in groundwater levels, air pollution due to dust and smoke, and environmental degradation. As a result, agriculture has been adversely affected, and various health issues are emerging in the region.
The villagers also opposed the government’s move to increase mining capacity from 3 million tonnes to 6 million tonnes. They demanded that the proposed expansion—reportedly ranging from 300 million to 700 million tonnes—be halted.
Despite extensive mining, locals claim that there has been no significant development in the surrounding areas, leaving residents in poor living conditions. They warned that if their demands are not met—particularly the establishment of industries in the region before further mining—they will launch large-scale protests, including road blockades in the coming days.
A memorandum outlining these demands was submitted to the District Collector in the presence of several local representatives, including Halua, Kumud Chandra Saunta, Sudarshan Bidika, Niranjan Bidika, Vinod Khosla, and other villagers.
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