100 held for protesting Vedanta project

BHUBANESWAR - At least 100 people including workers of Orissa’s ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) were arrested Thursday as they protested the rejection of Vedanta’s mining project in the state by the central environment ministry.

The protesters were arrested when they tried to take out a procession in Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district ahead of the visit of Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi to the area.

Carrying posters and banners, they were demanding permission from the central environment and forest ministry for Vedanta mining project in the Niyamgiri hills.

“About 100 people were held under preventive arrest. All of them were released later,” district police chief Sudha Singh told IANS.

Hundreds of Biju Janata Dal activists also carried out a procession in Bhubaneswar protesting the environment ministry’s decision. They also staged a protest in front of the Raj Bhaban, the official residence of the state governor.

“The central government is deliberately taking steps to block different mega projects ones such as by Vedanta and South Korean steel major POSCO,” Babu Singh, president of the BJD’s youth wing told reporters.

The union environment and forests ministry Tuesday axed the Vedanta mining project in Niyamgiri hills, saying it will affect the tribals living in the area and the environment.

Gandhi Thursday addressed a tribal rally in the area and congratulated tribals for winning a battle against the mining project.