Public Hearing for expansion of bauxite mining in Kodingamali hills conducted successfully with people’s consent: conflicting statistics in EIA
Dr. Badal Tah,Odishabarta
Rayagada, June 21: A public hearing was held today at Ashok Kalyan Mandap Rayagada by the State Pollution Control Board, Odisha’s Rayagada Regional Office for the expansion of Kodingamali bauxite mine covering an area of 428.075 hectares under Kashipur and Laxmipur tehsils of Rayagada and Koraput districts from 3.6 million to 6.0 million tonnes per annum(MTPA).
Residents of 2 villages of Kodipari panchayat and 5 villages of Bankamba panchayat namely Kansariguda, Podapadi, Kindiripadar, Phuljaba, Uparkodinga, Bankamba and Bajaragad, affected by the Kodingamali mining area participated.
The proponent Orissa Mining Corporation(OMC) of the Odisha Mining Department informed them about the components in mining expansion.
As mentioned in the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Report, there is 68.08 million tones minable reserves(till 31.3.2025) in Kodingamali mines. 9.51 Million Tonnes Per Annum(MTPA) including 0.22 MPTA topsoil & 3.29 MPTA waste materials will be excavated in the proposed expansion. So, logically the mines will last for 7.1 years whereas the EIA report mentions it to be 11 years. Total manpower needed is projected as 391 including existing manpower as 243 and additional as 148. But after 7 years, what will be the fate of these staff ? The EIA is mum in this regard.
26 women & men villagers complained verbally and in writing about the basic problems of their area such as bad condition of schools, teacher shortage, health problems, roads and communication issues, drinking water, temple construction, deficit of social security like old age & divvang pension, and food shortage. The entire program was videographed. Additional District Magistrate Nihar Ranjan Kahanr said that the government at appropriate levels would take a decision after sending the detailed proceedings to the government.
The introductory speech to this hearing was given by Ashok Bhoi, Regional Manager of the Pollution Control Board. OMC officer Bibhishan Majhi specifically explained what corporate social responsibility programs the company will take up. Chinmay Kumar Parida specifically responded to people’s issues raised during hearing and explained how the problems of the people can be solved by this Govt company. Finally, the Deputy Engineer of the Pollution Board proposed vote of thanks.
To avoid any untoward incident, the police had made extensive security arrangements in this mass event today, where around 500 villagers participated.
