Inhabitants of 10 villages in Odisha's Koraput district are opposing China clay mining at a hill near Parajakhurubi village, claiming that mining activities will dry up eight perennial water sources.
"Mining will hit our lives as it will cause soil erosion and our agricultural land will be filled with China clay," said Purna Chandra Pangi of Parajakhurubi village.
"We have submitted a memorandum to the district administration seeking stoppage of mining at the hill and will intensify agitation if our demand is not met," he added.
Officials at deputy director of mines office in Koraput said an Andhra-based trader got lease to mine 5,796 MT of China clay from the hill in 2006 and started mining recently. The hill is spread over Parajakurubi, Kumagandhna, Hata Suku, Praja Khudubi, Hengaiput and Lengi Suku.
"The company has transported around 62 MT of China clay and was forced to stop mining after getting stiff resistance from villagers. It is legalised mining with all required government clearances," said mining officer (Koraput) Sailaja Prasad Nanda.
Tension had prevailed near the mining area on Thursday as locals laid siege to a JCB machine and a truck, used by the lessee, to mine and transport China clay, officials said.
"While we have already submitted a memorandum to the administration, opposing mining, the lessee was adamant on extracting China clay from the hill. So we stopped the vehicles engaged by the lessee," said another villager Padu Bhoi.
Normalcy was restored after the administration and police intervened and freed the vehicles from the clutches of irate villagers and stopped mining activities.
"The situation in the area is tense but under control. Demands of the villagers will be looked into and necessary action taken," said Additional Tehsildar (Lamataput), Saheb Ram Baske.
