Satyagraha to Protect Khandadhar Hills from Mining

Date: 
January 26, 2016 to January 28, 2016
Khandadhar Surakhya Sangram Samiti and Lok Shakti Abhiyan organise a Satyagraha to protect the Khandadhar Hills in Odisha from mining companies. On Republic Day, a sit-in Dharna will start, which will end on 28th January with a massive rally at the same location. Mr. Prafulla Samantara, President of Lok Shakti Abhiyan, and the national convener of NAPM, has decided to sit in for the dharna followed by fasting for three days during the Satyagraha.

Background:

In 2005, the Odisha Government signed an agreement with POSCO, a company from South Korea, according to which iron ore mines in the Khandadhar Hills were recommended to be handed over to the company. Since then, the tribals including primitive tribal Paudibhuyna have been opposing against mining in Khandadhar, located in the Sundargarh district of Odisha.

Now, the Central Government has included it in the list of the mines to be auctioned out to corporate companies. Though tribals and traditional forest dwellers of Khandadhar hills have been protesting against mining, neither the state nor the central government is ready to consider keeping Khandadhar free from mining. The present Cabinet Minister of Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Mr. Jual Oram is a member of parliament from this region. Though he was opposing mining in this area earlier, now his government is going to hand over the same hills with serene water resources, rich biodiversity, and green forest cover, to the corporate giants without the consent of Gram Sabha.

Khandadhar is the natural habitat for indigenous tribals, who are economically, socially and culturally entitled community owners of this natural gift. This is also one of the most important natural eco-tourism centres in Odisha and its waterfalls meet next to the river Brahmani. Furthermore, the claims of community rights over forest land as well as individual claims under the Forests Rights Act of 2006 have not been realized. It is high time to get solidarity from People’s Movements and People’s Organisations from all over the country to strengthen the democratic struggle and pursue the government to declare the  hill zones free from mining within a radius of  25 Kms. 

Venue: Khandadhar Waterfalls. It is 60kms away from Rourkela Railway Satation, from where a bus is available upto Lahunipada.  From Lahunipada, an autorickshaw can be available for another 20kms or with prior confirmation of visit, transport can be arranged.

Contact: Prafulla Samantara: +91 9437259005