India: Chhattisgarh Govt to Hold Next Meet with Bailadila Tribals on July 12

The state government of Chhattisgarh has again called for a meeting of tribal representatives on July 12, 2019 to inquire into the matter of the 10-million-tons -per-annum (MTPA) Bailadila iron ore deposit-13, located at Kirandul, in Dantewada district, SteelMint has learnt from sources.

However, NCL (the joint venture between NMDC-CMDC Limited), despite being the owner of Deposit No.13, has not been invited to this meeting.

It may be recalled that Central PSU National Mineral Development Corporation of India Limited (NMDC) and state PSU Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation Ltd (CMDC) had formed a joint venture (JV) in 2008, that was to start mining in that particular block (Bailadila iron ore deposit-13). The new JV was named NCL in which NMDC held 51% share and CMDC the balance 49%.

Furthermore, NMDC, in a statement, had said that "NCL is the owner of deposit No.13 and the mining lease of deposit 13 is registered with this joint venture company. The land required for this project will be acquired in the name of the JV company only and NCL shall only have the selling rights of iron ore produced from deposit-13."

NMDC conducted Gramsabhas throughout July 2014, received the environment clearance in 2015 and forest clearance in January 2017. Subsequently, in 2017, the mining lease was transferred to the government-owned joint venture company NCL.

Subsequently, NCL awarded excavation and mine development work to Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL) as the mine developer-cum-operator (MDO) after a transparent competitive bidding process.

But before AEL could commence the project, a large number of local tribal people initiated a protest, demanding cancellation of the mining lease, claiming that the hill is revered as the shrine of Pitod Devi, wife of nature god Nandraj, and their faith is associated with it and they will not support mining in this hill.

The protest immediately got support from political parties and other tribal groups. After a 7-day long protest, the state government announced a probe into the cutting of trees in the area and ordered a stay on all activities on deposit number 13.

To inquire into the matter, the government had sent a sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) along with other officials to talk to tribal representatives on June 24. However, the village representatives refuse to meet and talk to government officials. Later, on the same day, after an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in the area, all officials returned. Now, as per sources, the next meeting is fixed on July 12.