Hundreds protest in Gadchiroli against mining firms

Hundreds of gram sabha members of Etapalli taluka today held a protest march to the Sub-Divisional Office here demanding that mining rights given to various private firms in the area be revoked.
The protesters held that these firms were damaging the environment and destroying the traditional places of worship of the local tribal communities.
The protesters demanded that the government implement the Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 or PESA and the Forest Rights Act effectively.
The protesters submitted a memorandum of their demands addressed to the Governor to the SDO.