Citizens urge CM to expedite bauxite mining in Kalahandi

IN a major push toward the long-awaited development of Kalahandi district, a 13-member delegation from the Citizen Forum of Kalahandi (CFK) recently met Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in Bhubaneswar, urging him to expedite the Gram Sabha process for initiating bauxite mining in the Lanjigarh region.

- PBD BUREAU

The delegation, led by former MLA Pradeepta Naik and retired professor Ajay Mishra, submitted a memorandum calling for a free, fair, and transparent Gram Sabha, leveraging the special powers available to the state government. They also emphasized that no local community displacement would occur in the 12 villages within the proposed mining zone, underscoring a commitment to responsible and inclusive development.

Highlighting the operational success of the Lanjigarh Alumina Refinery since 2003, the memorandum pointed out that over 70,000 families have benefited through employment, livelihood support, and development programs. However, the lack of captive bauxite linkage has constrained the plant's full potential and, by extension, the district's economic progress.