In 2006 Sterlite, a subsidiary of UK mining company Vedanta built a refinery in Niyamgiri Hills, Orissa, India. The intention was to mine bauxite from the Niyamgiri Hills, which is in reserved forest. It is also home to indigenous communities who are dependent on it for their livelihood. Niyamgiri is the source of two rivers Bansadhara and Nagaballi. The refinery consumes 30,000 cu.mtrs of water per day severely affecting the ecological systems and the communities.
The toxic waste material from the refinery pollutes air, ground and water. Since 2003 different groups have mobilised to fight Vedanta.
On August 24th, 2010 a turning point was reached in the struggle to save Niyamgiri.
Post By: iwp