Odisha Sets Up R\&R Committee for Sijimali Bauxite Mining Project

Bhubaneswar : The Odisha government has constituted a project-level Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R\&R) Committee for the Sijimali Bauxite Mines operated by Vedanta Limited in Rayagada district. The committee, chaired by the Rayagada district collector, aims to ensure smooth mining operations while addressing the needs of affected communities and maintaining environmental safeguards.

The Sijimali bauxite block, spanning 1,549 hectares across 18 villages in Thuamul Rampur tehsil (Kalahandi) and Kashipur tehsil (Rayagada), was allocated to Vedanta in March 2023. With an estimated reserve of 311 million tonnes, the company plans to mine around 9 million tonnes annually to partly supply its 6 million tonnes per annum refinery at Lanjigarh.

The committee includes representatives from government bodies, local elected leaders, NGOs, and community members. Key members are Munidei Majhi representing women residents, Ghasi Majhi for Scheduled Tribes, Manasi Pradhan from OYSS Women NGO, local bank and Panchayat officials, legislators, and Vedanta’s Chief of Land & Legal Matters. The committee’s administrator will act as the convenor.

Responsibilities of the R\&R Committee include reviewing resettlement plans, monitoring compensatory afforestation sites, coordinating with environmental authorities like Project Elephant, and mitigating soil erosion and ecological impacts. The committee has requested detailed reports on afforestation sites and existing transmission lines to ensure effective planning and implementation.

Through this initiative, the Odisha government seeks to balance industrial development with social responsibility and environmental sustainability. The committee is expected to play a crucial role in safeguarding the livelihoods and welfare of the local population while facilitating Vedanta’s mining operations at the Sijimali Bauxite Mines.