On the occasion of the World Tribal Day, thousands of tribals under the banner of Khandualmali Surakhya Samiti formed a human chain in Kalahandi’s Karlapat region and protested the proposed mining in Khandualmali hill.

They held a meeting at Karlapat and sang songs to save the hill from mining. The Khandualmali hill is located in the heart of the Karlapat forest, where tribals consider the hill as abode of Kondh Goddess Khandual.

The hill is surrounded by the Karlapat wild life sanctuary. placards and banners, the tribals, took out a rally from Saisurni village to Karlapat village and raised slogans against the mining saying the hill belongs to them and nobody should try to destroy it.

Khanualmali Surakhya Samiti president British Kumar said, “The hill is being protected by tribals’ ancestors since 1988 and it has been their home and livelihood. But now private companies are trying to mine the hill. The Khandualmali hill’s flora and fauna along with tribals’ livelihood will be destroyed if mining is allowed.”

Niyamgiri Surakhya Samiti convenor Lingaraj Azad said if the Government wants to mine the hill, it should hold gram sabhas in the region. “The Supreme Court’s decision to hold gram sabhas in the Niyamgiri hill located in Kalahndi’s Lanjigarh block protected thousands of tribals lives. We want gram sabhas here on the mining issue in Khandualmali hill here too,” he said. Environmentalist Prafulla Samantra said the Government is not implementing the PESA Act here. “Around 300 rivers are flowing in Karlapat region; 10 lakh trees alongwith an elephant corridor will be destroyed when mining takes place.We want the Government to withdraw its mine plan here,” he said, adding agitation will be intensified if the mining proposal is not dropped.

dei (65), a tribal resident of Karlapat said, “I have been living here since my birth and eking my livelihood from the hill.

The Government should have thought of my bread before leasing hills for mining. I will die here but not allow hill for mining at any cost.”