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The ecologically sensitive area in Odisha is facing increasing threat due to its rich deposits of minerals including bauxite, limestone, iron ore, and granite
The ecologically sensitive Gandhamardan Hills in western Odisha are revered as sacred besides being a treasure trove of medicinal plants and home to 1,055 plants as well as 500 animal species. (Image: @DibasKumarSahu/X)
The Centre told Parliament on Monday that there is no plan by the Odisha government to grant any mining lease in the ecologically sensitive Gandhamardan Hills, which have faced an increasing threat from new projects.
Located in the western part of Odisha, the biodiversity-rich region is revered as sacred by the local population that depends on its natural resources for their traditional livelihood. It has cultural and historical significance, apart from being a treasure trove of medicinal plants and home to 1,055 plants as well as 500 animal species.
The recent acquisition of around 112 acres of land in villages surrounding the hills by a subsidiary of the Adani Group, triggered massive protests while raising concerns about potential mining in the area.
Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka inquired about the status of Odisha’s ecologically sensitive areas including Deomali, Gandhamardan and Niyamgiri. He asked if they have been identified as no-mining zones to protect biodiversity and ensure sustainable resource use.
“The Government of Odisha has declared an area of 18,963.898 ha of the Gandhamardan Hills (Gandhamardan Reserve Forest) between Bargarh and Balangir districts…as the ‘Biodiversity Heritage Site of Odisha’. As per Government of Odisha, there is no plan for granting mining lease as per the Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2015, in these areas,” said Minister of state for environment Kirti Vardhan Singh in a reply.
Singh said the state government maintains that the biodiversity of Gandhamardan and its medicinal plants, including the ancient Nrusinghanath and Harishankar temples, are intact to date.
The protection and conservation of the hills are key for the indigenous population of the state that has led resistance movements in the past to oppose any mining projects in the region. Its ecologically fragile forests are also under pressure due to various climatic factors apart from human-led activity.
Responding to concerns over violations of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) in Odisha, Singh further stressed that consultations with the gram sabhas before grant of mining lease in the scheduled areas is a statutory requirement.
“As per the Section 4(5) of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, Gram Sabha is inter-alia empowered to regulate access to community forest resources and can stop any activity, which adversely affects the wildlife, forest and the biodiversity,” he said.
The minister said important development projects are being monitored through PRAGATI portal, a platform to review programmes and projects of the Centre as well as projects flagged by the state governments for timely implementation by following all statutory regulations and environmental safeguards, as applicable.
Further, the National Mineral Policy, 2019, stresses on the protection of fragile ecosystems and prohibits mining in ecologically fragile areas. Mining is also prohibited in the eco-sensitive zones and within 1 km from the boundary of any protected area.
