PARADIP: After successfully halting bauxite mining project by Vedanta at Niyamgiri hills in Kalahandi district, Dongria Kondh tribals vowed not to allow the Posco project at the cost of the locals’ livelihood. Members of the Niyamgiri Bachao Samiti (NBS), comprising 20 delegates from the villages to be affected by the proposed mining project, visited the villages in Dhinkia, Nuagaon and Gadakujang panchayats during their two-day stay at Gobindpur to convince the villagers to fight against the South Korean company. Carrying their traditional arms like axes, bows and arrows, the delegation of Dongria Kondhs led by its president Dadi Kusika and CPI-ML (New Democracy) leader Bhala Chandra Sarangi joined the agitators at the dharna site to express solidarity with those opposing Posco’s mega steel plant. The agitation is being staged by Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS) at Gobindpur village under Dhinkia panchayat for the last several days. “We came to Dhinkia to express solidarity with the agitating villagers who are fighting to save their land like us,” Kusika said, adding NBS would fully support PPSS. The NBS also expressed concern over the State Government’s move to lease out Khandadhar iron ore reserve in Sundargarh district to Posco. “A large number of tribals are likely to be affected if Posco starts iron ore mining at Khandadhar,” Kusika said. “We convinced the villagers who have given consent to keep their word to fight against the Posco project unitedly,” said NBS leaders Subash Kundisika and Bari Pidikaka.
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