Jeypore, 12th Sept 2025: Leaders from various political parties and residents of the affected areas in Laxmipur block of Koraput district have submitted a memorandum to the District Collector, addressed to the Chief Minister, demanding a complete stop to bauxite mining from the Kodinga Mali hills.
Since 2017-18, Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) has been supplying bauxite from Kodinga Mali to the Vedanta project.
Over the past eight years, the company has not provided any employment opportunities to local youths. Instead, the region has witnessed numerous problems due to mining activities, including environmental degradation and lowering of the groundwater level.
Mining has also led to the spread of various diseases in the area. Although the extracted minerals are sent to other districts and states, no developmental work is being carried out in the very region from where mining is taking place. This has created serious resentment among the local population.
The protestors stated:
“No factory, no mine. No jobs, no mine.”
“Vedanta – Go Back, OMC – Go Back.”
They demanded that all mining and transportation from Kodinga Mali be stopped immediately.
Laxmipur MLA Pavitra Sounta warned that if the government does not respond, the people will take to the streets on the 10th of this month in protest.