Srikant Jena Demands Suspension of Gram Sabha Meetings for Mining Approvals in Odisha

Bhubaneswar – Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Srikant Jena has urged the Odisha government to suspend all Gram Sabha meetings related to mining and environmental approvals until the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) is fully implemented in the state.

In a letter to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Jena called for the cancellation of all allegedly fabricated Gram Sabha meetings that have been manipulated to secure environmental clearances. He also demanded a transparent investigation into the role of officials involved in these fraudulent practices and strict action against those found complicit.

“I urge your office to take immediate action to put an end to these illegal practices and ensure that the PESA Act is implemented in both letter and spirit,” Jena stated.

The Congress leader expressed concern over the alleged collusion between the government and corporate entities, accusing them of suppressing tribal voices and forcibly pushing mining projects across Odisha. He claimed that instead of acting as neutral arbiters, government officials have become agents of mining corporations, orchestrating fabricated Gram Sabha meetings to secure mining and environmental clearances in violation of tribal rights and legal provisions.

Highlighting specific instances, Jena pointed to recent developments in Nandpur, Koraput, where he alleged that officials fabricated Gram Sabha meetings to facilitate Adani’s bauxite mining project in Balada, despite widespread protests from villagers. He further claimed that magistrates and officials falsely reported that the meetings proceeded smoothly, ignoring the strong local resistance.

Similarly, in Sijimali (Rayagada and Kalahandi), Jena alleged that fraudulent Gram Sabha meetings were being conducted to favor Vedanta’s mining project, sidelining local opposition. He also pointed to Hemgiri (Sundargarh) and other mineral-rich regions like Angul, where he claimed that people’s voices were being systematically suppressed through a nexus between mining operators and the administration.

Jena emphasized that the PESA Act of 1996 was designed to empower Gram Sabhas in Scheduled Areas, ensuring that tribal communities retain control over their resources and governance. However, despite assurances from the government regarding its immediate implementation, PESA remains non-operational in Odisha, allowing the alleged manipulation of tribal rights to continue unchecked, he remarked.

Jena’s demands come amid growing concerns over the transparency and legitimacy of mining approvals in the state, raising fresh debates over environmental governance and tribal rights in Odisha.