Anglican Church in controversy as Orissa tribals protest mining project

The Church of England is embroiled in a controversy for its partnership with a multinational mining company that is facing flak for setting up an alumina refinery in Orissa's Niyamgiri Hills.

Vedanta Resources of billionaire chairman Anil Agarwal had January announced plans to begin its bauxite mine in Niyamgiri Hills at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district.

The move was, however, strongly opposed by the indigenous Dongria Kondh tribe who considers it a sacred mountain and also expressed concern for the endangered animals and the untouched wildernesses in the hills.

Well-known environmental campaigner Bianca Jagger says the Anglican Church must disassociate from the mining project of Vedanta with who it has shares worth $4.1m.

"I appeal to the Church of England to realise that this mining project not only endangers the culture and beliefs of the tribal community but is also extremely damaging to the environment," she was quoted by the BBC as saying.

"It will have a severe impact on wildlife in the area - including leopards and tigers - in addition to destroying rivers, streams and plant life."

The planned bauxite mine had already got the approval of the Indian authorities in April 2009. Permission was given to Vedanta Aluminium Limited and the state-owned Orissa Mining Corporation to mine bauxite for the next 25 years in Niyamgiri Hills.

Apparently, a young Kondh tribal from Orissa has already left to London to urge the shareholders of the Britain-headquartered metal giant to rethink its decision.

"We cannot live without our God Mountain and the forest and we will continue our peaceful struggle. It is a life and death battle and Kondh people are united on this," said Sitaram before take a flight to London supported by ActionAid.

Edward Mason, spokesman of Church of England Ethical Investment Advisory Group said he would be meeting with the tribal representatives and the officials from Vedanta to discuss on the mining project.

"We work to a robust ethical investment policy... in areas where there are concerns we talk with the companies and hear what they have to say and what we expect from them," he said.

The project has also received strong opposition from major human rights organizations including Survival, Amnesty International, ActionAid, and War on Want.

Amnesty International, in a statement, called on the Indian government to immediately withdraw the clearance granted to Vedanta.

"For centuries the Dongria Kondh community have considered the Niyamgiri Hills sacred; central to their collective identity and religious beliefs. The hills are also essential to their economic and physical survival," said Madhu Malhotra, Amnesty International's Deputy Director for Asia Pacific. "The 8,000 strong Dongria Kondh now face an uncertain future."

"Contrary to international human rights standards, the Indian authorities have failed to obtain the free and informed consent of the Dongria Kondh prior to the approval of this project," said Madhu Malhotra. "Now the very existence of the Dongria Kondh as a distinct Indigenous people hangs in the balance."

Survival also was vocal enough and called on both the UN and India's National Human Rights Committee to stop Vedanta Resources' mine in the ancestral home of thousands of tribal people.