Koraput: More than 15,000 people of seven panchayats of this district Monday took out a rally seeking immediate resumption of mining activities and transportation in Kodingamali bauxite mine.
The OMC-owned mine was closed a few months back due to disturbances created by a group of miscreants creating unemployment among the local people.
The agitators submitted a memorandum to the Collector in this regard.
People who hit the streets were from Murkar panchayat of Dasamantpur block, Odiapenth of Laxmipur block and residents of Toyaput, Bankamba and Podabadi panchayats of Kashipur block in Rayagada district.
They demanded stringent action against the ‘outsiders’ who conspired to close the mine by disrupting quarrying and transportation. The agitators also sought immediate resumption of development works in the mining region.
Apart from the Collector, they submitted the copies of the memorandum to the sarpanchs, naib sarpanchs, samiti members and all ward members. Besides, the Koraput SP and several tehsildars were also given a copy each.
Earlier, the state government had granted lease to the OMC for mineral extraction. The OMC authorities, however, leased it out to a private company which started mining. Meanwhile, some miscreants torched an earthmoving equipment of the company. Laxmipur police arrested a local samiti member Balabhadra Majhi in this connection.
But some locals, biased by the outsiders, protested the arrest and blocked the road leading to the mine which stopped mining operation. This had adversely affected the livelihood of hundreds of families who were directly and indirectly dependent on the mine.
Following the incident, police had registered 10 cases against some people for fueling dissension among the locals.
