Odisha Government Forms Project-Level Rehabilitation Committee for Sijimali Bauxite Mines
Committee to oversee resettlement, environmental safeguards, and compensatory measures for affected communities in Rayagada and Kalahandi districts
Bhubaneswar : The Odisha government has constituted a Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R\&R) Committee at the project level for the Sijimali Bauxite Mines operated by Vedanta Limited in Rayagada district. The committee has been formed under the chairmanship of the Rayagada district collector to ensure smooth implementation of bauxite mining while safeguarding the interests of local communities.
The committee comprises representatives from various stakeholders, including government officials, local elected representatives, NGOs, and community members from affected areas. Key responsibilities include reviewing the implementation of resettlement plans, monitoring compensatory afforestation sites, and coordinating with Project Elephant and other relevant environmental agencies to mitigate soil erosion and ecological impacts.
Vedanta Limited was allocated the Sijimali bauxite block, which has an estimated reserve of 311 million tonnes, following an auction in March 2023. The company has proposed to mine approximately 9 million tonnes of bauxite annually to partly feed its 6 million tonnes per annum refinery at Lanjigarh. The bauxite block spans 1,549 hectares and covers 18 villages across Thuamul Rampur tehsil in Kalahandi district and Kashipur tehsil in Rayagada district.
Under the provisions of Section 45 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013, and Rule 36 of the Odisha RFCTLARR Rules, 2016, the committee is mandated to review post-implementation progress, ensure compliance with resettlement norms, and address grievances of affected families.
Committee members include Ms. Munidei Majhi, representing women residents of the affected area; Ghasi Majhi, representing Scheduled Tribes; Ms. Manasi Pradhan, President of OYSS Women NGO; the Special Land Acquisition Officer of Rayagada; Assistant Manager of State Bank of India, Kashipur; Kanthe Majhi, Chairperson of Panchayat Samiti, Kashipur; the Chairperson of the District Planning Committee or their nominee; Saptagiri Ulaka, Member of Parliament, Koraput; Kadraka Appala Swamy, MLA, Rayagada; and Vinod Kumar Purohit, Chief of Land & Legal Matters, Vedanta Ltd. The committee administrator will act as the convenor.
The committee has already directed the government to submit detailed plans to control soil erosion, provide updates on existing transmission lines, and prepare comprehensive reports on each compensatory afforestation site. These steps aim to ensure that mining activities proceed in an environmentally responsible manner while securing the welfare and livelihoods of the local population.
By establishing this high-level committee, the Odisha government seeks to balance industrial development with social responsibility, environmental sustainability, and fair rehabilitation of communities impacted by the Sijimali Bauxite Mining project.
