From The Editor’s Desk: Tension is mounting in Koraput district as villagers intensified their protest against a proposed bauxite mining project in the Serubandh hill range under Pottangi block. The Odisha government has granted permission to NALCO to undertake mining in the region, raising serious concerns among the locals.

Residents, especially Tribals from over 30 villages fear that the NALCO Bauxite project will devastate their land, agriculture, natural streams, and the surrounding hills that sustain their livelihoods and cultural identity. The situation has further escalated as the government has initiated road construction towards the Serubandh hills to facilitate mining operations.

In strong opposition, the tribals have been staging a continuous protest for the past five days at Purunapadar Chhak. Men and women from affected villages are guarding the area round-the-clock in shifts, determined to stop the road construction and protect their land from NALCO. The agitation reflects deep-rooted anxieties over displacement, environmental loss, and the absence of adequate consultation with local communities while undertaking mining activities.