Koraput: A groundbreaking ceremony for bauxite mining at the Seruband mine in the Pattangi area of Koraput district was disrupted today due to fierce protests from local residents.
The ceremony, scheduled to be attended by Union Minister of State for Mines Satish Chandra Dubey, faced stiff resistance from villagers who opposed the mining project. Protesters tore down the stage and name plaque, and blocked the guests’ way, forcing the minister and officials to go back.
The locals demanded that their issues be addressed before the mining project commences. Despite attempts by Collector V Kirti Vasan, SP Abhinav Sonkar to pacify protesters, they remained resolute.
The standoff resulted in the minister and officials being stuck on the road for quite some time. The event has been cancelled.
Later, a meeting was convened at Nalco Guest House where it was decided to conduct the groundbreaking after discussing it with local residents.
The Serubandha mine is a significant bauxite deposit, and the mining project has been a contentious issue in the region. The local residents demanded for a discussion on their issues before undertaking any projects.
