Indus Valley Times

By Payal Banerjee

Bhubaneswar, March 7: Tribal communities and residents of Kalahandi district have urged Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to convene a long-overdue Gram Sabha for the Lanjigarh Bauxite Mine, emphasizing its potential to drive the region’s socio-economic progress. 

A delegation from the Lanjigarh Anchalika Vikas Parishad met the CM and submitted a memorandum, highlighting Kalahandi’s paradox—despite housing some of the world’s richest bauxite reserves, it remains underdeveloped. The absence of industries, particularly in the Trilochanpur region, has stunted infrastructure growth and economic advancement. 

While industrialized pockets of Rayagada and Kalahandi have witnessed improvements in livelihoods, infrastructure, and employment opportunities, the delay in operationalizing the Lanjigarh Bauxite Mine has left this region trailing behind. 

For over two decades, the lack of a Gram Sabha decision has stalled progress, depriving local communities of the crucial 5% development fund that could bolster infrastructure, healthcare, and education. Thousands of indigenous people, including the Dongria and Kutia Kondh communities, continue to grapple with poverty due to a dearth of employment opportunities. 

Despite its vast natural wealth, Kalahandi remains one of Odisha’s most underdeveloped districts. In contrast, neighboring Rayagada and Koraput have benefited from industrial expansion and job creation through active mining projects. 

With the government’s ‘Viksit Odisha’ vision, tribal groups remain hopeful that the new leadership will prioritize inclusive growth. They have called on the CM to fast-track the Gram Sabha proceedings to kickstart mining operations, paving the way for much-needed employment, infrastructure, and economic revival in the region. 

The Mohan Charan Majhi government has been focusing on expanding industrial activity, particularly bauxite refining in southwestern Odisha, encompassing Kalahandi, Rayagada, and Koraput. The region is home to major refineries operated by India’s public sector enterprise, National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), as well as private entities like Aditya Birla’s Utkal Alumina and Vedanta Group. These refineries process bauxite into alumina, which undergoes further refinement to produce high-value aluminum. 

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Photograph: Tribals and local residents of Lanjigarh in Odisha’s Kalahandi district stage a mass rally in Bhubaneswar, urging the state government to hold a Gram Sabha for bauxite mining in the region.