Bhubaneswar: Amid opposition’s allegation that the state government has handed over land near Gandharmardhan hills to Adani group, Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo today clarified that the BJP Government has neither permitted the Adani group to purchase land around the Gandharmardhan hills nor allow such move.
He said the previous BJD Government had allowed the Adani Group to buy land in the area.
Shri Singh Deo said that the BJP government will not allow any mining activity in Gandhamardan. “Gandhamardan will not be allowed to be destroyed,” adding that he will also join the protest if any mining operation is allowed in the region.
The Deputy Chief Minister said this after senior BJD leader and Deputy Leader of Opposition, Prasanna Acharya expressed his concern during Zero Hour about the apprehension of people in Bolangir and Bargarh districts that the land was sold to the multi-national company by the government for bauxite mining.
Shri Acharya said a senior forest officer said the land was given to the company for compensatory afforestation.
The BJD leader further said the people have already started agitation and the BJD leader wanted the government to clarify whether the government has permitted the company to buy land if not what action it is taking against the company for purchasing land without the permission of the government.
In his reply, Shri Singh Deo dismissing opposition members’ allegations, on the other hand, claimed that the previous BJD government headed by Naveen Patnaik had allowed the Adani Group to purchase land for compensatory afforestation in the foothills of Gandhamardan.
“Before levelling allegations that the BJP government allowed Adani Group to purchase land near Gandhamardan hills, the BJD leaders should verify which government gave permission to the company to purchase land.
“It was the BJD government, and not the BJP, which had given permission to the Adani Group to take land for compensatory afforestation in Bolangir district for loss of forest cover due to the company’s coal mining project in Sundargarh district,” the Deputy CM said.
Reiterating the BJP government’s commitment to protecting the sacred Gandhamardan hills, he said, “Gandhamardan will not be allowed to be destroyed. I will also join the protest if any mining operation is allowed in Gandhamardan hills.”
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said in 1983, the Congress government had signed an MoU with Balco for mining and former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik had signed an agreement with Blaco for Bauxite mining in the hills but both the times the agreements were cancelled following public protest.
He said the BJD government led by former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had also identified 2000 acres of land for giving to NALCO-Vedanta for bauxite mining in the area.
As per the present agreement, Adani has acquired land for undertaking compensatory afforestation. Later, the company will hand over the forested land to the Government, he said.
Notably, the State Government has declared Gandhamardan Hill as Biodiversity Heritage Site. The hill system that spans both Bargarh and Balangir districts is known as the ayurvedic paradise.
Gandhamardan is home to 1,200 plant species, 500 animal species, and several varieties of trees, shrubs, herbs, and medicinal plant species.