By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: The problem of Sijimali bauxite mines issue of Anil Agarwal led Vedanta Group is not solved, now Goutam Adani run Adani Group subsidiary, Kalinga Alumina Ltd has come to dig bauxite from Kutrumali hills under Thuamul Rampur and Kashipur Tahasil of Kalahandi and Rayagada.
The BJP Government led by Chief Miinister Mohan Majhi’s double engine government is now going to hold public hearing in the coming May 12 to snatch the lands, forests and mountains of tribal and Dalit people to Adani.
In fear of people’s protest, they are going to conduct public hearing in local unknown places and surround the armed police in Thuamul Rampur block office.
This came to light after an official Notice issued by the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB), under the Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department, Government of Odisha dated 08-04-2026 (No. 6308 / IND-II-PH-1221) and concerns, directing for a public hearing for environmental clearance of a proposed bauxite mining project.
Key Details from the Notice
Project Proponent: M/s Kalinga Alumina Limited.
Project Name/Location: Kutrumali Bauxite Block.
Proposed Capacity: 4.0 MTPA (million tonnes per annum) of Run-of-Mine (ROM) bauxite. Setting up of crushing/screening facilities with 800 TPH (tonnes per hour) capacity.
Mining Lease Area: 701.792 hectares.
Affected Villages/Areas: Kutrumali, Lelingpadar, Rakhiguda, and Bhikapanga under Thuamul Rampur & Kasipur tehsils of Kalahandi and Rayagada districts (Kalahandi district is specifically mentioned for the public hearing).
Purpose: The proponent has applied for Environmental Clearance (EC) from the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India. The OSPCB is conducting the mandatory public hearing as per the EIA Notification, 2006 (S.O. 1533(E) dated 14.09.2006).
Public Hearing Details: Date: 12.05.2026 (Tuesday) at 10:00 AM.
Venue: Th. Rampur Block Office, Kalahandi district.
Deadline for written submissions: Within 30 days from the date of publication of the notice (addressed to the Member Secretary, OSPCB via Registered Post).Participants can also submit views orally during the hearing.
It invites suggestions, views, comments, and objections on environmental aspects of the project from bona fide residents, environmental groups, and others in the project area, displacement sites, or likely affected sites.
Contextual Background and Analysis: The Kutrumali Bauxite Block is part of Odisha’s significant bauxite reserves, located in the mineral-rich but ecologically and socially sensitive regions of Kalahandi and Rayagada districts. These areas are predominantly tribal (Adivasi)-dominated, with dense forests, water sources, and subsistence agriculture/livelihoods dependent on the hills and forests.
Project Scale and History: Earlier proposals for Kutrumali (around 3.0 MTPA over ~696-701 ha) date back years, with mineable reserves estimated in the range of 20-47 million tonnes or more in related blocks. The current notice upgrades or specifies 4.0 MTPA ROM with crushing facilities. Kalinga Alumina Limited (linked to the Adani Group via entities like Mundra Aluminium Ltd.) has been declared a preferred bidder for the Kutrumali block, which has geological reserves around 128 million tonnes. This fits into broader efforts to develop bauxite for alumina/aluminium production.
Regulatory Process: Public hearing is a statutory requirement under the EIA Notification 2006 for Category A projects (large mining leases >50 ha or certain capacities). It allows local input before MoEF&CC grants final EC. The notice follows standard format, authorizing the Board to collect views on pollution, ecology, displacement, water/air/soil impacts, biodiversity, etc.
Potential Environmental and Social Impacts (based on typical bauxite mining in the region):
Land and Forests: Large-scale open-cast mining involves significant land diversion (often forest land with low canopy but critical for tribal livelihoods). Deforestation, soil erosion, and habitat loss are common concerns.
Water Resources: Bauxite hills often serve as watersheds; mining can affect perennial streams, groundwater, and agriculture.
Air and Noise Pollution: From blasting, crushing (800 TPH plant), and transport.
Displacement/Livelihoods: Affects villages listed; tribal communities rely on minor forest produce, shifting cultivation, and the hills culturally/spiritually.
Biodiversity: Region has wildlife corridors and sensitive ecosystems (proximity to areas like Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary in related projects).
Similar bauxite projects in Odisha (e.g., Sijimali by Vedanta, Balada by the same Kalinga Alumina/Adani-linked entity, Niyamgiri) have faced strong local opposition, protests, and allegations of inadequate Gram Sabha consent under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006, intimidation, and flawed EIA processes. Public hearings for nearby blocks like Balada (2025) saw majority opposition from villagers citing environmental, cultural, and livelihood threats.
Broader Implications:
Economic vs. Environmental Trade-off: Odisha is India’s top bauxite producer. The project supports downstream aluminium industry (jobs, revenue), but past experiences (e.g., Niyamgiri rejection due to tribal rights) highlight risks of conflict if community concerns on consent, rehabilitation, and mitigation are not addressed transparently.
Legal/Compliance Angle: The notice emphasizes “bonafide residents” and affected persons. Success of the hearing depends on wide publicity, access to EIA, and free participation. Written/oral objections must be recorded and considered by authorities.
Next Steps: After the hearing (12 May 2026), proceedings will be forwarded to MoEF&CC along with the EIA for appraisal. Issues like forest clearance (FC under Forest Conservation Act), wildlife impacts, and FRA compliance (Gram Sabha resolutions) will also be scrutinized.
