Locals demand more bauxite for Vedanta's refinery in Odisha

Apprehensive about the future of the alumina refinery of Vedanta Aluminium at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district, local people observed a bandh demanding bauxite for the company.

With VAL having to run its refinery at 40-50 percent of its capacity, the people under the banner of the Lanjigarh Anchalika Vikash Parishad feared that a halt in production would lead to loss of jobs and livelihood.

The people from Lanjigarh and adjacent places like Biswanathpur, Daikhal and Ambadala shouted slogans demanding immediate allocation of bauxite to the refinery which is facing a crisis due to shortage of the raw material.

Sridhara Pesnia, president of the Parishad said, “The alumina refinery should be provided bauxite from Odisha. The state and central governments must ensure this. If it is not done local people will be affected badly.”

Stating that a large number local people depend on the refinery for their livelihood, Pesnia said, “We will go to the Chief Minister and if necessary to Delhi to meet the Prime Minister to ensure that a bauxite mine is provided to Vedanta.”

PTI