Vedanta to Go Ahead with Mining Sacred Indian Mountains

29 July 2009 (Last Updated July 29th, 2009 18:30)

Diversified British mining company Vedanta Resources is to go ahead with a proposed bauxite mining project in a sacred part of India, defying protests from indigenous people and international non-government organisations (NGOs). The proposed mine in the Indian state of Orissa is

Diversified British mining company Vedanta Resources is to go ahead with a proposed bauxite mining project in a sacred part of India, defying protests from indigenous people and international non-government organisations (NGOs).

The proposed mine in the Indian state of Orissa is located on the slopes of the Nyamgiri Mountains, which are considered sacred by 8,000 Kondh tribals.

Environmentalists claim the mine will destroy the area’s ecosystem and affect the future of the local people.

London-based Vedanta said it has complied with the various conditions imposed by Indian Government, adding that it shared some of the concerns by some of its shareholders about the campaigns of two NGO’s, ActionAid and Survival.

An ActionAid spokesperson has reportedly said mining the mountains of Nyamgiri would be like demolishing Stonehenge.