Environmental injustice to the mining and conservation induced displaced people in Odisha

1. Environmental injustice to the
Conservation & Mining induced
displaced people in Odisha
Madhulika Sahoo
Senior Research Fellow
Anthropological Survey of India, CRC Nagpur
Ministry of Culture, Govt. Of India
madhulika.sahoo@hotmail.co.uk
International Association For Forced Migration Studies (IASFM), Swabhumi Kolkata
6th – 9th January 2013

2. Displacement and Environmental injustice
The root cause of environmental injustices
are mainly due to "institutionalized racism;
co-modification of land, water, energy and
air; unresponsive, unaccountable
government policies and regulation; and
lack of resources and power in affected
communities” (Matsuoka, 2003)

3. Displacement in Odisha
In Odisha district like Keonjhar, Koraput,
Rayagada and Sunadargarh where
displacement due to mining is rampant
The state has approved more then200
Proposals for aluminum, Ferro alloy’s, power,
Steel, alumina, cement
Mining 11.24%,
industries 13.48%,
dam projects 67.42%
(Ota, 2009)

4. Displacement for mining
There are 105 mining companies
spreading over 33,000 hecter, 2.4 lakh
tones of iron ore are been extracted every
day in Keonjhar
Politics behind ignoring rights of the
tribals, e.g., Keonjhar-Juangs habitat rights
The bad consequences of afforestation,
plantation, e.g., Kandhamal, Kondh tribes

5. Displacement for mining
 Degradation of water quality, air quality, or forest
resources that are central to the livelihoods of tribal
populations
 The highly polluted area are Joda, Badbil, Bolani, Joda-
Barbil area- (North) East
of Khandabandh-
Matangtoli (South) Koli
River, (Barsuan -Kalta area) (Photo showing mining area, Keonjhar)

6. Displacement in protected area, Simlipal
Displacement in protected area, in Odisha
displacement had occurred in Chandaka wildlife
Sanctuary (273 families) & Simlipal wildlife
sanctuary (176 families)
Situation in Simlipal core area 4 villages
 No basic facilities, leading to tribal movement in
Simlipal December 2011

7. No Govt. &health
facilities
No secured
livelihood for many
Food insecurity
leading to
 child labor in
Resettlement colony
Lack of access to
forest produces
Displacement in protected area, Simlipal
Photo taken in Kapanda Banbasa
resettlement colony, Mayurbhanj

8. Consequences
Loss of access to basic facilities
Reduction in quality of life of the DPs & PAPs
Unaccountable government policies and
regulation
Lack of resources and power in affected
communities
Increase migration to urban areas for work
Substantial increase of child labor & trafficking
Loss of culture & traditional practices

9. Suggestion
• Following legal mandates- Vesting of forest
rights under FRA, LA and R & R policy properly
• Database- Tracking & updating the displacement
figures and R & R time to time
• Transparency- On expenditure of the R & R
package, access to bank details, constant
monitoring by state authorities
• Providing livelihood options- Training,
occupation, market, proper rehabilitation
measures
• Trust- Grievance redressal & executing R& R plan
in time

10. Suggestion
• Similar environment- resettling with same
community people & previous environment to
intact with their own traditional practices)
• Basic Infrastructure-Agricultural land, water
facilities, houses, market linkage, common
property resources
• Sustainable livelihood- Through market linkage
of the NTFP & other tribal produces
• Awareness- Constant awareness of there rights
& Govt. facilities

11. Thank you