TNI Bureau: Koraput district in Odisha—renowned for the scenic Deomali hills and Duduma waterfall—is witnessing rising public anger over the impact of NALCO’s bauxite and aluminium project, established 46 years ago. While the project has generated substantial revenue, local residents are questioning what tangible benefits it has brought to the region.

Laxmipur MLA Pabitra Saunta has launched a sustained protest against NALCO and the government, mobilising thousands of residents. He alleges that despite decades of mining and industrial activity, the promised development has not materialised. According to him, local employment has been ignored, infrastructure remains inadequate, and affected communities continue to struggle.

Villagers report acute shortages of drinking water and electricity, poor road connectivity, weak educational facilities, and the absence of a proper hospital, bus stand, and public toilets. Saunta said such conditions are unacceptable in areas directly impacted by a major industrial project.

He also raised concerns about Dengajaniguda village, which he claims has been severely affected by NALCO’s operations. When the issue was raised in the Assembly, officials reportedly stated the village was not impacted. Challenging this, Saunta urged authorities and company representatives to spend a few days in the village to witness the ground reality.

Saunta further alleged that local youth remain unemployed while jobs are being given to outsiders. He also accused NALCO of inadequate investment through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds, despite guidelines mandating contributions to local development and welfare.
According to the MLA, mining has brought dust, disease, and displacement, while the benefits of development and CSR projects are concentrated in urban centres like Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, and Puri. He warned that continued neglect of Koraput would not be tolerated and said the movement would intensify if corrective steps are not taken. The protest, he emphasised, is not against development but for fairness, dignity, and basic rights.

Koraput MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka also visited Dengajaniguda to assess the situation firsthand, an issue he said he has repeatedly raised. He alleged that pollution from NALCO has contaminated water sources, damaged crops, sickened livestock, and caused serious health problems among villagers. “These are not mere claims but lived realities. Adivasi lives are not collateral damage,” he said.