Deal #608

Niyamgiri Hill in Lanjigarh, Orissa is home to several ‘Primitive Tribal Groups’ that have special status in the Indian Constitution as among the most vulnerable indigenous communities with distinct culture and customs.

initially there was no consultation and local people reported that the company had started clearing the land without informing them. Later on, consultations were held Between 800-1,000 people attended the hearing and the majority of them were in favour of it (expansion),” said additional district magistrate Sashadhar Nayak, who will be signing off on the report. Read more at: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/indl-goods/svs/metals-mining/sesa-sterlite-gets-nod-for-lanjigarh-expansion/articleshow/39410409.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

In August 2013, nearly six years after the refinery was commissioned, Vedanta’s aluminium project suffered a setback when the 12 tribal villages on Niyamgiri hill did not give their consent for the mining project on the grounds that the hill was holy to them. Read more at: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/indl-goods/svs/metals-mining/sesa-sterlite-gets-nod-for-lanjigarh-expansion/articleshow/39410409.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

121 families (according to the company)

Environmental Degradation: deforestation, air pollution, water pollution, severe and irreversible effects on ecological characteristics and biodiversity of the area Socio-economic: sustainable livelihood activities such as farming, fishing, and forest product gathering are disturbed and/or no longer available to the Lanjigarh locals affected by the project Cultural loss: destruction of sacred hill/forests Violence: Some of those who opposed were threatened into accepting. Those who refused found their homes bulldozed and they were forcibly moved to relocation camps.

cash compensation (25-50% higher than minimum requirements per acre of land), relocation village

cash compensation (25% higher than minimum requirements but some of those who received it were forced or regretted it); relocation village (largely abandoned being deemed unsuitable for villagers' needs);

According to company website (https://www.vedantalimited.com/Pages/Lanjigarh.aspx): Education: Provision of support to 6 government schools with teachers and Karate Class; Shiksha Sambal (coaching program for under-privileged students of the local community); Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) program Community Infrastructures: enabling villages with the development of basic infrastructure like drinking water projects, local drains, community centres, etc. Roads: Approach roads Health: Vedanta Hospital with Mobile Health Unit; Swachhta Bharat Mission (Community Led Total Sanitation); Vedanta Baljyoti Eye Health Program; support to Maa Santoshi Jankalyan Hospital Other: Project Dhokra (reviving the long-lost traditional art forms of Odisha); provision of support to youth sports of volleyball, cricket, football, badminton, and archery

Sachetan Nagarik Manch (SNM), ActionAid, Adim Adhikar Surakshya Manch