Niyamgiri

Environment Ministry Stalls Vedanta’s Niyamgiri Project

In the past month, we sent mails from all over the world to the Environment Minister, the Prime Minister, and other Government officials in India telling them to stop Vedanta from mining Niyamgiri, Orissa which is home to the Dongria Kondh tribe and a rich biodiversity spot.

A few weeks ago,  Jairam Ramesh, India’s environment minister initiated a high level committee to investigate this proposed mining  of  Niyamgiri  against the wishes of  the Dongria Kondh.

On August 16,  that committee tabled their report which unequivocally condemns the proposed mining project. The same day The Guardian, in an article headlined ’ Vedanta’s Indian mining project under threat’ reported that “Environment minister Jairam Ramesh said today that another panel would meet on Friday to study the inquiry report before his department takes a final decision on Vedanta’s mining proposal.”

We then sent mails to the ministerasking him to stand firm and implement the report’s recommendations.

On 24th August, the Environment Ministry rejected the project stating that it is against environment protection Acts and that it would jeopardize the livelihoods of the tribes.

“There have been serious violations of environment protection acts,” Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh told reporters, while rejecting Vedanta’s mining plans that could destroy heavily forested hills sacred to local tribal populations. “There is no emotion, no politics, no prejudice … I have taken the decision in a purely legal approach. That these laws are being violated.”

This is great news for us. A sign that our voices will be heard if we speak. Thank you for each one of your mails. We will put up our next course of action very soon.