Invitation to Join Satyagraha on 26-28 January to protect Khandadhar hills

[napm india]

Invitation to Join Satyagraha

To Protect Khandadhar Hills with Waterfalls from Mining

(26-28 Jan, 2016)

Dear Friends,

In 2005, the Odisha Government has signed agreement with POSCO of South Korea for which iron ore mines in Khandadhar Hills in Sundargarh district was recommended to hand over it. Since then, the tribals including primitive tribal Paudibhuyna have been opposing against mining in Khandadhar. Now, the Central Government has included it in the list of the mines to be auctioned for leasing out to corporate. Though tribals and traditional forest dwellers of Khandadhar hills have been protesting against mining, neither the state nor the central government is ready to consider for keeping Khandadhar free from mining. The present Cabinet Minister of Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Mr. Jual Oram is a member of parliament from this region. Though he was opposing mining in this area earlier, now his government is going to hand over the same hills with serene water resources, rich biodiversity, and green forest cover, to the corporate without taking consent of Gram Sabha.

Khandadhar is the natural habitat for indigenous tribals, who are economically, socially and culturally entitled community owners of this gift of nature. This is also one of the most important natural eco-tourism centres in Odisha and its waterfalls meet next to the river Brahmani. Also the claims of community rights over forest land as well as individual claims under the Forests Rights Act, 2006 have not been realized. It is high time to get solidarity from People’s Movements and People’s Organisations from all over the country to strengthen our democratic struggle and pursue the governments to declare the said hill zones free from mining within 25 Kms of radius. The mining in Khandadhar will destroy life and livelihood of thousands tribals.

We are going to organize Satyagraha as a protest against mining from 26^th January to 28^th January, 2016 at Khandadhar falls. On Republic Day, sit-in Dharna will start and will end on 28^th January with a massive rally at the same place. Mr. Prafulla Samantara, President of Lok Shakti Abhiyan, and also the national convener of NAPM, has decided to sit in for dharna followed by fasting for three days during Satyagraha. Many activists of people’s struggles in Odisha will join the Satyagraha.

We would like to invite activists and leaders of people’s movements from different states to make their presence and raise the issue of national interest to protect and preserve such natural resources from corporate loot.

With revolutionary greetings,

Khandadhar Surakhya Sangram Samiti

Lok Shakti Abhiyan

Venue:

Khandadhar Waterfalls 60kms away from Rourkela Railway Satation

From Railway station bus is available upto Lahunipada from which auto can be available for another 20kms or with prior confirmation of visit transport can be arranged.

Contact: Prafulla Samantara: +91 9437259005

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