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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com/2008/04/15/stories/2008041557230300.htm)
Other States
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Orissa
Mining on Deomali mountains opposed
Correspondent
KORAPUT: “Save Deomali” campaign was launched at Upper Kanti, a village on the top of the mountains in Deomali range of Koraput district by “Sibukodi Dharitri Surakhya Parisahd” of Semiliguda block. Prempatra Jani, president of the Parishad, said the State Government should not allow companies to take the mountains on lease for mining purposes.
At a meeting held in the village, he said Deomali mountain region with its rich water reserve was the lifeline for thousands of tribal families from more than 40 villages and any initiative for mining would prove detrimental to the livelihood opportunities in the region with drying out of water sources . While criticising the State Government for going ahead with leasing out more and more areas of Koraput region for mining purposes when the NALCO was already engaged in mining bauxite from the region for the next 80 years, Prafulla Samantara, president, Lokshakti Abhiyan(Orissa), asked the State Government to implement the recommendations of the Huda committee on Mining policy withdrawing the existing system of leasing out mines at throwaway price and replacing it with a process where the companies would be asked to purchase the mineral at market price .
Later, talking to media, he wondered over the justifications of the State Government allowing the companies to take possession of rich mines on lease at Rs.64 per ton of bauxite when the market price of the mineral was more than Rs2000 per ton.
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