Vedanta seeks Niyamgiri mining revival, pitches ₹1 lakh crore Odisha investment

Vedanta Group Chairman Anil Agarwal on Saturday sought the reopening of the Niyamgiri bauxite reserves in Odisha, nearly 13 years after mining plans were shelved following opposition from the Dongria Kondh community, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).

“The discussion (with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi) today was that Niyamgiri would be reopened immediately. The tribal population there should be given employment opportunities and brought into the development process,” Mr. Agarwal said after discussion with Odisha government at State secretariat.

The Niyamgiri Hills are estimated to hold 72 million-88 million tonnes of bauxite, a key raw material for alumina and aluminium production.

“The Niyamgiri bauxite reserves that were guaranteed to us should be opened to mining. We have been told that all the necessary permissions currently required will be granted immediately so that we can start mining there and provide employment to thousands of people,” he said.