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NAPM opposes renewed push for Niyamgiri bauxite mining, demands closure of Lanjigarh refinery.
Niyamgiri is not for sale; its mountains, forests, and resources are the collective heritage of its people and must be protected.
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Bhubaneswar, Odisha : On September 29 , 2026 , the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) strongly opposed renewed efforts to revive bauxite mining in the Niyamgiri hills and warned the Odisha government against any attempt to hand over Niyamgiri to Vedanta.
The organisation said the Niyamgiri hills belong to the Dongria Adivasi communities, who have historically protected and depended upon the forests, mountains and natural resources of the region. NAPM said neither Vedanta chairman Anil Agarwal nor the state or Central governments could claim ownership over Niyamgiri, and urged the Odisha government not to permit any attempt to revive the mining project.
At a press conference in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, September 29 , 2026, NAPM also demanded the immediate withdrawal of all mining leases in Odisha where mining operations have not yet commenced and the immediate closure of the alumina refinery at Lanjigarh, alleging that the plant has caused pollution and environmental damage in the region.
The organisation’s statement comes amid renewed discussions over bauxite availability and mining in Odisha. Vedanta chairman Anil Agarwal has recently spoken about expanding the company’s operations in the state and has held discussions with the Odisha government over proposed investments and access to bauxite resources.
NAPM national adviser and environmentalist Prafulla Samantara and Odisha state convener Narendra Mohanty addressed the press conference. Eminent Human rights activist Biswapriya Kanungo was also present.
Niyamgiri Mining Project Was Rejected by the People
NAPM said the proposed Niyamgiri bauxite mining project was halted nearly 13 years ago following sustained opposition from indigenous communities living in and around the Niyamgiri hills. The movement, led by the Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti and supported by local Dongria Adivasi communities, played a central role in stopping the proposed mining project in 2013.
According to NAPM, people from all 112 villages in the affected region opposed the proposed mining project. The organisation recalled that the Supreme Court subsequently made it clear that the question of whether mining could be undertaken in Niyamgiri had to be decided by the concerned Gram Sabhas, after considering the rights and claims of the affected Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers.
Following the Supreme Court’s direction, the Gram Sabhas of the 12 Dongria Kondh villages identified by the Government of Odisha, along with Gram Sabhas of other affected villages, unanimously rejected the mining proposal.
Gram Sabha Decisions Must Be Respected
NAPM said the Gram Sabha decisions rejecting mining in Niyamgiri have constitutional and statutory significance. It pointed to the protections available to Adivasi communities in Scheduled Areas under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution, the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), and the Forest Rights Act.
The organisation said Adivasi communities in Scheduled Areas have constitutionally protected rights over their traditional lands, forests and natural resources. NAPM alleged that concerted efforts are being made to place Odisha’s bauxite resources in the hands of a small number of corporate entities, including Vedanta and Adani.
Vedanta subsequently approached the Supreme Court with a review petition in 2016, but the petition was rejected, NAPM said.
The organisation said the Gram Sabha decisions cannot be disregarded in any future attempt to revive the project. “The decisions of the Gram Sabhas must be respected,” it said, arguing that any attempt to reopen the Niyamgiri project would face opposition from affected communities and people’s movements.
NAPM said Niyamgiri is not merely a source of mineral wealth. The bauxite-bearing mountain ecosystem plays a crucial role in sustaining rivers including the Bansadhara and Nagavali. For the Dongria Kondh people, the hills are not only a sacred landscape, revered as the abode of their deity, but also the foundation of their livelihoods and an integral part of their cultural identity.
Concerns over activists’ arrests
The organisation also raised concerns over the arrest of Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti president Lada Sikaka and the continued incarceration of activist Lingaraj Azad in connection with several cases.
NAPM alleged that criminal cases and arrests were being used to weaken resistance to mining projects in the region.
The allegations were made by the organisation at the press conference. The government and investigating agencies’ responses to the specific allegations were not immediately available.
Opposition spreads to other mining regions
NAPM said the struggle of Adivasi and Dalit communities to protect their land, forests, water and mountains continues across Odisha. From Niyamgiri to Karlapat, Sijimali, Kutrumali and Sashu-Bohu Mali, communities are resisting attempts to hand over mineral-rich mountains to corporate interests.
According to NAPM, Vedanta is seeking approximately 36 million tonnes of bauxite annually to support its aluminium production and exports. The organisation warned that over the coming two decades, such demand would consume a substantial proportion of Odisha’s bauxite reserves.
NAPM said Adani is also seeking access to large quantities of bauxite and warned that the combined pressure from major corporations could result in the rapid depletion of Odisha’s bauxite resources, with serious consequences for forests, water sources, biodiversity, agriculture and local livelihoods.
The organisation also pointed to ongoing struggles by Adivasi and Dalit communities against proposed mining activities involving Aditya Birla, Adani and NALCO.
NAPM warned that the government must not become an instrument for corporate exploitation of Odisha’s natural resources. It said protection of the Eastern Ghats and all bauxite-bearing mountain ecosystems is essential for the present and future generations of Odisha.
The organisation’s concerns come as several mining projects in Odisha have become the focus of debates over tribal rights, forest diversion, environmental protection and industrial development.
NAPM seeks closure of Lanjigarh refinery
NAPM strongly opposed the recent discussions and assurances between the Odisha government and Vedanta chairman Anil Agarwal concerning the expansion and revival of mining activities in the state.
The organisation called upon both the Central and Odisha governments to immediately withdraw from policies that it described as anti-people and destructive to nature and the environment.
NAPM specifically demanded the immediate closure of the alumina refinery at Lanjigarh, alleging that the plant is polluting the surrounding environment and communities. It said closure of the plant is essential for protecting Niyamgiri and the surrounding ecological systems.
The organisation further called upon the state and Central governments to ensure that industrial and mining policies protect the rights of Adivasi communities and the ecological systems of the Eastern Ghats.
NAPM demands
NAPM called for:
- No reopening of the Niyamgiri bauxite mining project.
- Strict respect for the decisions of the Niyamgiri Gram Sabhas.
- No mining activity without the legally required Gram Sabha consent.
- Withdrawal of all un-operated mining leases in Odisha.
- Immediate closure of the Lanjigarh alumina plant, which the organisation alleges is polluting.
- No approval for any new bauxite mines in Odisha.
- Protection of the Eastern Ghats, forests, biodiversity, rivers and water sources.
- Protection of the constitutional rights, land, livelihoods and cultural identity of Adivasi and farming communities.
- An end to the use of criminal cases and what NAPM describes as state repression against people peacefully resisting destructive mining projects.
NAPM called upon the Odisha government to place the interests of people, the environment and future generations above the interests of corporations.
“Niyamgiri is not for sale,” the organisation said. “Odisha’s mountains, forests, water and natural resources are the collective heritage of its people and must be protected
Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Rift.
