Adani Bijahan coal project suffers setback in court
Allegedly, the state government provided just a day’s notice before conducting the Gram Sabha meetings in the four villages before forever taking away those communities' land, water and natural resources!
An Adani company has received a setback from a state court in India regarding development of a huge coal mine. The High Court of Odisha has sent the Adani company and the state government back to the drawing board regarding mandatory consultations with tribal villagers to be ousted from their lands by the Bijahan mine. Village meetings, a mandatory part of the approval process, had been rushed through in a single day by local authorities, allegedly contravening legal requirements. The court’s order is a brief reprieve for people whose land, homes and livelihoods are threatened.
Basic facts and figures:
- Name of project: Bijahan coal mining project
- Location: Sundargarh, state of Odisha, India
- Name of Adani subsidiary: Mahanadi Mines & Minerals Private Limited
- Coal reserves: 327 million tons
- Peak output: 5.26 million tons per annum
- People affected: 4 villages affected (detailed study not yet conducted)
- Cost: Rs 2600 crore (US $313 million)
- Current status: Awaiting approval
The locations of four of the villages to be impacted by Adani's Bijahan coal mine.
The government of the eastern Indian state of Odisha allegedly rushed through public consultations with tribal communities to fast-track a proposed new coal mine belonging to the Adani Group, according to a court petition. Consultative meetings with project-affected communities in tribal-dominated villages, which should have been conducted only after a notice period of 15 days, were allegedly held at just a day’s notice!
Apr 10, 2024, Adani Watch
