Andhra mining agency told to ‘go back’ by Nimmalapadu tribals at public hearing

Andhra mining agency told to ‘go back’ by Nimmalapadu tribals at public hearing

Subject: Environment

Section: Environmental law

Section:

Context: First hearing since 1997 Supreme Court judgment, Kept out of mining lease decisions at least five times despite legal win, say villagers.

More on the News:

• A public hearing for granting mining licences in a Fifth Schedule village in Andhra Pradesh was met with slogans to “go back” by tribal community members. Nimmalapadu had won a legal battle in 1997 against the state government and a private company to save their village from mining and has staved off several attempts to violate the ruling since then.
• This public hearing was the first one in 31 years and came two months after Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC) prepared an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report for obtaining environmental clearances. This is a fresh attempt by APMDC to grant mining licenses in the region.
• The residents alleged the APMDC issued licences five times since 1997 to cooperatives or individuals from the state belonging to the Konda Dora community who did not belong to these villages. The state agency found new ways to keep the people out of the process and no hearings were conducted for granting these licences.

SC Direction:

• The 1997 judgement was popularly called the Samata judgement after the name of the non-profit that helped the people fight the case.
  • In the landmark ruling, the Supreme Court had declared that only people belonging to the Konda Dora tribe and their cooperatives could exploit minerals in Fifth Schedule areas and that private mining, even with government backing, is
• Supreme Court reiterated the Constitution’s Fifth Schedule that land and resources in these areas should belong to the Scheduled Tribes. The state government should be responsible for encouraging tribal people to come forward by providing the necessary support.

Konda Dora tribe

• Konda Dora is a tribal community living in the hilly regions of the Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. They are also known as Kondadora or Kondh, and speak the Kui language.
• The Konda Dora tribe is known for their unique cultural practices, including the worship of the earth goddess, Dharani Penu. They also have a rich tradition of oral literature, which includes folk songs, myths, and legends.
• The Konda Dora community is primarily involved in agriculture and forest-based livelihood activities such as hunting, fishing, and gathering of forest products. They practice shifting cultivation and grow crops such as paddy, millets, and vegetables. The tribe also has traditional knowledge about herbal medicines, which they use to treat various ailments.
• The Konda Dora community has faced several challenges, including displacement from their ancestral lands due to mining and other development activities. They have also struggled with poverty, lack of access to basic amenities, and discrimination.