Koraput: Adani Group has scheduled a public hearing on March 6 regarding bauxite mining at Nageshwari Hill, a renowned tourist spot in Nandapur block, Koraput district. This proposal has sparked discontent among local residents, who are preparing to voice strong opposition during the hearing. Nageshwari Hill holds deep cultural significance for the community, featuring a hilltop shrine of Goddess Thakurani, which has been a site of worship for generations.
Annually, a festival dedicated to Goddess Thakurani attracts thousands of devotees, including many from neighboring Andhra Pradesh. Locals fear that bauxite mining could damage the hill’s natural beauty, disrupt wildlife habitats, and harm agricultural lands at the mountain’s base. The proposed mining area covers 145 hectares atop Nageshwari Hill, part of a larger 1,181-hectare forested region. Environmentalists warn that mining could devastate the entire forest area, posing significant risks to local livelihoods and the environment.
Residents are concerned that Adani Group plans to extract bauxite for export without establishing local industries, offering minimal benefits to the community while they bear the environmental costs. They argue that without local industrial development, the community gains little, facing pollution and environmental degradation while the company profits from raw material exports.
The Mali Parbat Protection Committee, led by Vijay Khol, alleges that the public has been kept uninformed about the upcoming hearing, accusing the company of operating covertly. Similarly, the Nageshwari Protection Committee opposes the mining proposal. A senior member stated that they would support the project only if Adani Group establishes local industries; otherwise, they remain opposed.
Congress leader and Pottangi MLA, Ramachandra Kadam, expressed that while local industrial development would be acceptable, extracting bauxite solely for export would face strong opposition.
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