A crucial public hearing seeking environmental clearance for bauxite mining by Vedanta Limited at Sijimali in Odisha’s Rayagada district on October 16 got over with the majority of villages voicing concerns over the possible adverse impact of mining on local ecology.
The public hearing was conducted at the Trinath Dev High School at Sunger near Kashipur of Rayagada amid tight security. The public hearing had become highly controversial as villagers had alleged police high-handedness and attempts to allure villagers for deposition in favour of the mining.
