The six week time for compilation and verification of forest rights claims of individuals on Niyamgiri hill ended on Sunday even as the villagers living on the slopes this hill range prepared to hold Palli Sabhas which will decide the bauxite mining project, crucial for Vedanta's Rs 40,000 crore investment in the state.
After the Supreme Court's April 18 order on forest clearance for Niyamgiri mining project, the state government had given six weeks' time for submission of forest, cultural, religious rights claims by Dongria Kondhs, a primitive tribe, residing in the hilly terrain.
These claims will be placed before Palli Sabhas for validation. Each of the village community meetings will be supervised by a district judge, who will ensure that the claims of the tribals have been recognized by the state government.
The officials of these two districts, meanwhile, have received more than 40 individual claims and 79 community claims from the villages under their jurisdiction on properties like land, mango orchards, temple area and cattle grazing ground. After validation of these claims by the Palli Sabhas, the documents will be sent to the Supreme Court.
On April 18, the Suprme Court had ordered that the Dongria and other tirbes residing in the hills must be provided with basic rights mentioned in the Forest Rights Act. It had also said that the Palli Sabhas can consider whether the proposed mining site, which is 10 km away from Hundaljali, abode of Niyam Raja, can affect the religious rights of the locals.
"Our departmental committee has completed inquiry of the claims made by the residents of Niyamgiri Hills. These claims, which have been sent to the Forest Rights Committee of each village, will be discussed during Palli Sabha meetings," said Sashi Bhushan Padhi, collector of Rayagada, where Palli Sabhas will be held in seven Dongria Kondh villages.
After the Supreme Court's April 18 order on forest clearance for Niyamgiri mining project, the state government had given six weeks' time for submission of forest, cultural, religious rights claims by Dongria Kondhs, a primitive tribe, residing in the hilly terrain.
These claims will be placed before Palli Sabhas for validation. Each of the village community meetings will be supervised by a district judge, who will ensure that the claims of the tribals have been recognized by the state government.
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The Palli Sabhas, slated to be held in 12 villages in Kalahandi and Rayagad districts, will start from July 18 and will end on August 8.
The officials of these two districts, meanwhile, have received more than 40 individual claims and 79 community claims from the villages under their jurisdiction on properties like land, mango orchards, temple area and cattle grazing ground. After validation of these claims by the Palli Sabhas, the documents will be sent to the Supreme Court.
On April 18, the Suprme Court had ordered that the Dongria and other tirbes residing in the hills must be provided with basic rights mentioned in the Forest Rights Act. It had also said that the Palli Sabhas can consider whether the proposed mining site, which is 10 km away from Hundaljali, abode of Niyam Raja, can affect the religious rights of the locals.
"Our departmental committee has completed inquiry of the claims made by the residents of Niyamgiri Hills. These claims, which have been sent to the Forest Rights Committee of each village, will be discussed during Palli Sabha meetings," said Sashi Bhushan Padhi, collector of Rayagada, where Palli Sabhas will be held in seven Dongria Kondh villages.