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The Dongria Kondh of India's Niyamgiri Hills have fought a heroic battle against mining giant Vedanta Resources to save their sacred mountain.
The Supreme Court has told Vedanta that the Dongria must decide whether to allow mining or not.
There are about 8000 members of the tribe, living in villages scattered throughout the Niyamgiri Hills. They are also known as Jhamia. meaning 'protector of streams', because they protect their sacred mountains and the life-giving rivers that rise within its thick forests.
Niyamgiri hills is considered as to be their sacred mountain. But it is a rich deposit of bauxite. So Vedanta decided to mine this mountain for $2billion bauxite. As we all know, mining has hazardous effect on nature. It would destroy the forests, disrupt the rivers and spell the end of the Dongria Kondh as a distinct people. Dongria Kondh lifestyle and religion have helped nurture the area's dense forests and unusually rich wildlife. the indian government refused to grant final clearance for Vedanta's mine, choosing the place the Dongria Kondh's rights above the company's balance sheet. In April 2013 the Supreme Court decided that the Dongria Kondh must make a decision on whether mining should go ahead.
The reasons why tribals resist mining were
'Not even this handful of soil'
The Dongria Kondh explain why they vehemently oppose the building of a mine on their land and what they must do it resist it.
Vedanta has been trying to mine Niyamgiri's bauxite since 2003. The company built a refinery at the foot of the hills and started on the conveyor belt that would bring the bauxite out of the hills. Kondh villagers were removed from their homes for the refinery. They suffered threats and intimidation. They lost both their lands and their means of supporting themselves. They are also suffering from various health problems due to pollution from the refinery such as skin problems. livestock diseases and crop damage. The Odisha government's pollution control board found emissions from the refinery to be alarming and continuous. Although the mine has currently been shelved, and the refinery has been temporarily shut due to a lack of bauxite, until the refinery is permanently closed the Dongria remain concerned that their hill is not safe. In 2012, the refinery was closed due to lack of bauxite.
The Supreme Court has told Vedanta that the Dongria must decide whether to allow mining or not.
Mine- A story of sacred mountain
This short film, narrated by Joanna Lumley, tells the story of the Dongria Kondh’s resistance. Vedanta are intent on constructing an open-cast mine on their land and thereby destroying the tribes sacred mountain and with it everything they know.
The Supreme Court has given the Dongria three months to decide whether to allow mining in the hills.
There are about 8000 members of the tribe, living in villages scattered throughout the Niyamgiri Hills. They are also known as Jhamia. meaning 'protector of streams', because they protect their sacred mountains and the life-giving rivers that rise within its thick forests.
Niyamgiri hills is considered as to be their sacred mountain. But it is a rich deposit of bauxite. So Vedanta decided to mine this mountain for $2billion bauxite. As we all know, mining has hazardous effect on nature. It would destroy the forests, disrupt the rivers and spell the end of the Dongria Kondh as a distinct people. Dongria Kondh lifestyle and religion have helped nurture the area's dense forests and unusually rich wildlife. the indian government refused to grant final clearance for Vedanta's mine, choosing the place the Dongria Kondh's rights above the company's balance sheet. In April 2013 the Supreme Court decided that the Dongria Kondh must make a decision on whether mining should go ahead.
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| Dongria Kondh girls (photograph by: Jason Taylor) |
- They would lose their livelihood, their identity and the sanctity of their most religious site.
- In common with other displaced tribal peoples worldwide, they would also lose their present good health, their self sufficiency and their expert knowledge of the hills, forests and farming systems that they have nurtured.
'Not even this handful of soil'
The Dongria Kondh explain why they vehemently oppose the building of a mine on their land and what they must do it resist it.
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Vedanta's aluminium refinery at Lanjigarh, Odisha, seen from the Niyamgiri Hills
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