Nandapur/Padua: Tension prevailed after villagers Tuesday opposed a drone survey allegedly being conducted by the Adani Group in villages surrounding the Balda bauxite hills in Nandapur block of Koraput district. The villagers detained Adani Group representatives Dilip Parichha and Pramod Hial, along with employees who had arrived to operate the drones. Tension prevailed in the area for some time following the incident. On being informed, Padua police reached the spot and rescued the detained officials and employees. The drones and vehicles that had been detained by the villagers were also taken into police custody. The survey work was subsequently stopped.
The Balda Hill Protection Committee has lodged a complaint at Padua police station, alleging that the survey was being conducted illegally. Padua police station inspector Tuna Pidika has received the committee’s complaint. According to information, the Balda hills and caves were recognised as an ecotourism site by the Tourism Department in 2008. The hill was later designated for mining, and the Adani Group was awarded mining rights through an auction. Residents of Balda, Bheja, Badel, Atanda and Kulabir panchayats surrounding the hills have been opposing gram sabhas and public hearings conducted by the company and administration for the proposed mining activities. The Balda Hill Protection Committee has alleged that company officials have repeatedly entered villages in the name of corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities and attempted to divide the villagers.
A few days ago, residents also opposed an Adani mobile health service vehicle in Balda village. After learning that Adani officials were conducting drone surveys in Chilam, Kantasaru, Khadaput, Kandhaguda, Taintar and Balda villages, hundreds of villagers, led by committee president Ajay Muduli and Bijay Kumar, reached the area and opposed the survey. The villagers detained several drones, vehicles and employees and questioned why and under whose instructions the survey was being conducted in the Fifth Schedule area.
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