rayagada district mahendra kandhapani 20/04 Fierce opposition and public protest against the Utkal Alumina Project is gaining momentum. Bafla Mali Pragati Organization, in the villages around Bafla Mali under Kashipur and Rampur blocks of both Rayagada and Kalahandi districts, has been going from village to village to question and understand the development picture of the Utkal Alumina Project that has been going on for nearly two decades, and to break the sleep of the district administration and the Utkal Alumina Project in public.
Prakash Thaaki! The Kashipur Bafla Mali Pragati Organization has been holding a peaceful protest on the main road of Bafla Mali since February 13, demanding 15 basic and just demands such as employment and economic development of the residents of the mining-affected areas, restoration and maintenance of the environment, and agricultural and developmental issues. It is understood that the protest has been held at the same place multiple times in the past three months. At various times, the district administration, the Deputy Collector, Rayagada and the Utkal Alumina Project authorities have made no sincere efforts to resolve the problems of the residents of the area and have repeatedly made unilateral comments regarding the Utkal Alumina Project during the talks, alleging that the main problems of the people have been ignored and unilateral comments have been made regarding the Utkal Alumina Project. The Bafla Mali Pragati Organization has responded to the failure of the talks at the Kashipur, Tikiri and Utkal Project offices. Despite the media coverage of the incident, the administration and the project have not shown any sincerity till date, hence the Bafla Mali Pragati Organization has called for a massive mass movement after inspecting the development of Mali sorounding Kupakhal, Karanji Kupakhal, Barjakhal, Jaguguda, Maligaon, Jugabasa kebdi, Durkhal, Telaspari, Chandragiri, Dangeshkhal, Bhramaryodi, Tal Dandabad, Jatthi Dandabad blocks of Kashipur Rayagada district and Kanarfash, Adri, Bamuniguda, Kendumundi, Durmusi, Suryagarh, Maligaon and Gadlaghat blocks of Thuamul Rampur Kalahandi. In this mass movement call program, Habal Naik, Barun Naik, Sanjeev Naik, Thabir Naik, Jagu Majhi, Sanu Majhi, Mansingh Majhi, Basant Naik, Dhabi Naik, Ajay Naik, Ullas Naik, Prithvi Naik and other prominent people were present from the organization.