Expansion of Refinery: A Danger to Life and Livelihood

Indigenous communities of India have been fighting for their rights for centuries now. But their voices go unheard. The sad state of affairs of Dongria Kondh in Orissa is a vivid example of the violation of human rights. Niyamgiri hills at Lanjigarh, home to the adivasi community in the state, have a wealth of bauxite. The place is also home to an aluminum refinery, the brainchild of Vedanta Resources, a UK-based FTSE 100 company.

The company is seeking expansion of the refinery and mining project. The Indian authorities are ignoring the devastating health impacts of the proposed six-fold expansion. Local people have been deprived of the details of the project and its impacts on their daily lives. They have been comforted with the proclamation that the region will get a much needed makeover due to expansion of refinery and mining project.

Danger to Environment and Health

Niyamgiri hills are sacred to the Dongria Kondh, and mining them would not only hurt its physical being, but impact the cultural and economic survival of the locals as well. The local river is the main source of water for this 8,000 strong indigenous community, which is increasingly getting polluted as a result of the refinery. The fact that several locals have suffered blisters and rashes after bathing in the river is evidentiary of the potential hazards of the project. Not only the water, but the air is also getting contaminated owing to disposal and residue and harmful gases released by the refinery.

What should be done?

The need of the hour is for the Orissa state authorities to acknowledge the fact that its community’s rights to land, health and water are being neglected. Stringent actions must be taken in this regard, preferable in collaboration with the Government of India. The expansion of the refinery and mining should not be given a green signal before the existing problems of human rights are addressed. Most importantly, the action plan should only be formulated after taking the prior and informed consent of the community.