Bhubaneswar : There is a controversy surrounding Adani groups’ purchase of land near the bauxite- rich Gandhamardan hills. The hills are spread across Bolangir and Bargarh district. Adani group subsidiary Mahanadi Mines and Minerals has purchased nearly 50 acres of land in and around the hills purportedly for compensatory afforestation. However, given the fact that the hills have a rich bauxite stock and the company is also into mining the purchase has raised suspicion.
The land has been purchased in a phased manner during the last one year and the company is in the process of acquiring more land in Bolangir and Baragarh districts. Opposition leaders feel that it is a covert attempt by the Adani group to enter Gandhamardan Hill area in future for the exploration of bauxite. The Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has demanded a clarification from the BJP government led by Mohan Charan Majhi on the issue. It wants the government to clarify whether the company would go for the exploration of bauxite and other minerals like manganese and graphites in the Gandhamardan hill area and its surroundings. The BJP has accused the BJD of indulging politics over the issue, ignoring the interests of the state.
Former BJD MP from Bolangir and the current MLA from Bolangir assembly constituency Kalikesh Singh Deo has alleged that Adani group has purchased the land around Gandhamardan hill in Bolangir and Baragarh districts. He sought to know the purpose of the purchase and alleged that it was a tactics to enter the Gandhamardan area. He demanded a statement from the government.
Earlier several attempts were made to explore bauxite from Gandhamardan which is estimated to contain 207 million tonnes of bauxite but every time the successive government backed out after the tribals launched agitation over the issue. Last time, the area witnessed agitation in 2004 when Naveen Government with the Nalco made an aerial survey of the area. Following the agitation, the Naveen Patnaik government backed out.
Top leaders of Gandhamardan Surakshya Samiti said they would not give an inch of land of Gandhamardan for mining purpose. Nearly 55,000 tribals depend on the Gandhamardan hills for their livelihood. They said if mining is done in the area the river and streams will dry up.
Earlier in 1993, the area was given to Balco. But people reacted as it would have destroyed the ecology of the area and dried up a number of rivers. Besides, lakhs of people depend on the Gandhamardan hills . The then chief minister JB Patnaik had to cancel the agreement.
Sources said that Meanwhile, Adani Group in a statement said: “Mahanadi Mines and Minerals has acquired private land in Bolangir and Bargarh districts from willing landowners to transfer it to the forest department of the Odisha government for afforestation purposes. The purpose of land acquisition is clearly mentioned in the sale deed with the landowners.” Mahanadi Mines and Minerals is a subsidiary of the Adani Group. However, the company has sought to make it clear that land acquisition is not intended for any commercial purposes.
Company sources said, “The Ministry of Coal, Government of India, vested the Bijahan Coal Mine with The Mahanadi Mines and Minerals Private Limited through competitive bidding in October 2022 for commercial mining purposes.” Bijahan Coal Mine is located in Sundergarh district, “As per the provisions of the Forest Conservation Act 1980, the user agency shall provide an equal extent of non-forest Government land as Compensatory Afforestation (CA) for the diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes. The land can be purchased any where in Odisha,’ they said.
“Mahanadi Mines and Minerals has purchased private land in Odisha from willing landowners for the purpose of Compensatory Afforestation of Bijahan Coal Mine. suitability certificates were obtained following the appropriate process. The land purchased for the purpose of compensatory afforestation.” will be transferred to the Government of Odisha,” the company said. However, the controversy is far from over.
