In the heart of Odisha’s Kalahandi district, a storm brews over bauxite mining — a saga intertwining corporate ambitions, tribal rights, and the promise of progress. Recently, a full-page advertisement appeared in the leading Odisha dailies, championing bauxite mining in Kalahandi. The ad, purportedly from the Lanjigarh Anchalika Bikash Parishad, linked mining to tribal welfare and regional development. However, observers suspect Vedanta’s influence behind this message, given the company’s vested interests in the area.
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Vedanta’s presence in Kalahandi has been contentious. In 2003, the Odisha government signed an MoU with Vedanta Aluminium Limited to establish an alumina refinery and bauxite mining plant in the Niyamgiri hills, the land which is also sacred to the indigenous Dongria Kondh tribe. The tribe’s resistance culminated in a landmark 2013 Supreme Court verdict affirming their right to decide on mining activities in their homeland.
Despite these challenges, bauxite, an irreplaceable raw material for the aluminium production industry, remains a cornerstone of India’s economic aspirations. Aluminium’s unique properties, like its lightweight, corrosion-resistance, and high recyclability, make it indispensable across sectors like construction, transportation, and energy. Notably, aluminium constitutes 85 per cent of most solar panel components, underscoring its role in India’s renewable energy initiatives.
India’s aluminium production has more than doubled over the past two decades, from 1.7 million tonnes in 2003 to 4.1 million tonnes in 2023. The country’s aluminium production experienced a modest uptick during the April to February period of the financial year 2024-2025, recording a 0.9 per cent increase to reach 38.36 lakh tonnes (3.836 million tonnes), compared to 38 lakh tonnes (3.8 million tonnes) in the same period the previous year Consumption is projected to reach 10 million tonnes by 2033, driven by infrastructure investments, electric vehicle adoption, and the energy transition.
In this particular stance, the fine-tuned balancing of industrial growth with environmental stewardship and social responsibility is imperative for both the Odisha government and the metal giant — Vedanta Aluminium. Sustainable mining practices and genuine community engagement can ensure that aluminium production contributes positively to India’s development narrative.
Information credit: The News Insight
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