Lanjigarh: A large number of people in Kalahandi district Friday staged a demonstration demanding the immediate opening of bauxite mines to secure their livelihoods. The villagers under the banner of Lanjigarh Anchalik Vikash Parishad (LAVP) took out a rally led by Sridhar Pesnia, president of the outfit. The tribals’ rally also got the support of the local people.
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A number of district-level leaders, including Lanjigarh block vice-chairman, members of Zilla Parishad and others, said that there is no point in importing bauxite when large deposits remain unexplored in Kalahandi. They urged the state government to act swiftly in unlocking the region’s mineral wealth for local development. The local leaders also alleged that continued inaction in opening the bauxite mines has affected Kalahandi’s development. “Our villages are drowning in despair. Kalahandi has fought decades of hunger and poverty. Now, when hope stands before us, why should we be denied our own resources,” said a village elder.
