Thousands of tribal residents in Odisha’s Koraput district staged a massive demonstration on Tuesday, opposing the proposed bauxite mining project in the Nageswari Reserve Forest.

The protestors, representing 13 gram sabhas in Nandapur block, marched under the banner of the Community Forest Resource Management Committees (CRMCs) to voice their concerns over the potential environmental and livelihood threats posed by the mining project.

Holding banners and raising slogans, the demonstrators demanded the immediate cancellation of the mining proposal, asserting that the extraction of bauxite would lead to deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and displacement of indigenous communities. Tribal leaders emphasized that the reserve forest is a crucial source of sustenance for local communities, providing them with food, water, and medicinal plants.

“Our forests are our lifeline. Any attempt to mine this land will destroy not just the environment but also our way of life,” a protester said.

The demonstration highlights the growing opposition to large-scale industrial projects in ecologically sensitive regions of Odisha. While the state government has yet to respond to the protest, activists and tribal representatives have vowed to continue their agitation until their demands are met.