Archive · 1 Nov 2025
Odisha Adivasis Prepare for Battle Against Mining on Sacred Gandhamardhan Hills
People in Odisha who live near a special mountain called Gandhamardhan are worried about mining companies coming back.
These mountains are very important because they are considered sacred, full of different plants and animals, and provide water for many people.
Long ago, people protested against mining and made the companies leave.
Now, a company owned by Adani Group has bought some land nearby, and the villagers fear mining will start again.
They have organized themselves into groups to protect their mountains.
They also want the government to officially give them rights to manage their forests, which they believe will help them protect the mountains even better.
They depend on the forest for food, medicine, and to sell things like honey and fruits, and they don't want mining to destroy their way of life.
Adivasi communities in Odisha's Gandhamardhan Hills fear renewed bauxite mining following land acquisition by Mahanadi Mines and Minerals Ltd, a subsidiary of Adani Group.
The Gandhamardhan Hills are ecologically rich, home to diverse flora and fauna, sacred sites, and vital water sources, sustaining over a million people.
Historical resistance in the 1980s successfully halted mining by Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO) in the same hills.
Local communities are actively fighting for Community Forest Rights (CFR) under the Forest Rights Act, facing challenges in obtaining full titles over reserve forest lands.
Tribal villagers rely on the forest for their livelihoods through non-timber forest produce and are determined to protect their ancestral lands and resources.
- Who
- Indigenous Adivasi communities, including Kondh and Adikandh tribes, youth leaders, and local organizations.
- What
- Preparing for renewed protests against potential bauxite mining in the Gandhamardhan Hills, citing environmental, cultural, and livelihood concerns, alongside a struggle for forest rights.
- When
- Fears have resurfaced following land acquisition by Mahanadi Mines and Minerals Ltd; historical opposition occurred in the 1980s; current community organizing and protests are ongoing.
- Where
- Gandhamardhan Hills across Bargarh and Balangir districts in Odisha.
- Why
- To protect the sacred hills, rich biodiversity, water sources, medicinal plants, and their traditional livelihoods derived from the forest, while also seeking to secure land rights under the Forest Rights Act.
Indigenous Communities and Local Organizations
Mining Companies and Potential Development Interests
Impact of Mining on the Environment and Livelihoods
Indigenous Communities and Local Organizations
Mining poses a severe threat to the rich biodiversity, sacred sites, medicinal plants, and vital water sources of the Gandhamardhan Hills, jeopardizing the traditional livelihoods and cultural heritage of Adivasi communities who depend on the forest's non-timber forest produce.
Mining Companies and Potential Development Interests
Mining operations, while not explicitly detailed in the provided text as to their specific benefits in this instance, typically aim to extract valuable resources like bauxite, which is essential for industrial processes such as aluminum production, contributing to economic development.
Land and Forest Rights
Indigenous Communities and Local Organizations
Adivasi communities are asserting their rights under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) to manage and govern their forests, expressing concern that delayed or restricted CFR titles, particularly over reserve forest land, hinder their ability to protect the environment and are possibly influenced by anticipated mining projects.
Mining Companies and Potential Development Interests
The article mentions Mahanadi Mines and Minerals Ltd. acquired land for 'compensatory afforestation,' suggesting a compliance with environmental regulations. The government is also in the process of reviving forest management committees, indicating a structured approach to forest governance.
Historical Precedents and Future Intentions
Indigenous Communities and Local Organizations
Drawing from the successful 1980s movement against BALCO, communities are vigilant and prepared for another prolonged struggle, demanding written guarantees that Gandhamardhan will never be opened for mining.
Mining Companies and Potential Development Interests
While the Adani Group subsidiary has acquired land, the company has not yet responded to specific queries about their intentions. The Divisional Forest Officer stated that mining in Gandhamardhan is not in any current proposal after the BALCO issue.
- Location
- Gandhamardhan Hills, Odisha (Bargarh and Balangir districts)
- Key Tribes
- Kondh, Adikandh
- Potential Mining Resource
- Bauxite
- Biodiversity Heritage Site Status
- Declared in March 2023 (approx. 19,000 hectares)
- Historical Opposition to Mining
- 1980s movement against Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO)
- Forest Rights Act (FRA)
- Ongoing struggle for Community Forest Rights (CFR) titles