Koraput, 11th Aug 2025: While Chief Minister Mohan Majhi is scheduled to visit Jeypore tomorrow to distribute installments under the Subhadra scheme, Mining Minister Bibhuti Jena arrived in Koraput on an official tour. On his way to Koraput for this event, he was welcomed at Laxmipur by BJP party workers with a ceremonial scarf and flower bouquets.
Former MLA Kailash Kulesika, Manoj Sahu, Deb Khara, Ajay Khara, Uday Hikaka, and several party workers were present during the welcome. Learning about the minister’s visit, members of the Regional Development Council — Bidyaran Choudhury, Daulran Choudhury, Rajendra Duria, Neelakanth Jhodiya, Purna Choudhury — and leaders of the Kodinga Mali Suraksha Mancha, including Sudhakar Bagh, Agasti Halba, Bipin Mandinga, Damodar Bidika, and Sahadwe Bidika, met him.
They informed the minister about the ongoing process to increase the bauxite mining capacity at Kodinga Mali from 3 million tons to 6 million tons and urged him to stop it. In response, the minister stated clearly that Mohan Majhi’s government is a government for the common people, not for the elites, and that the interests of people in mining areas will be given top priority. If the people in mining-affected areas do not want the expansion, a public hearing will be conducted, he assured. Hearing such a response from the minister, the locals present expressed enthusiasm.
On the other hand, the convener of Kodinga Mali Suraksha Mancha stated that since Vedanta Company has made progress toward setting up a factory here, long-term plans would require bauxite. He warned that if mining capacity is increased, there will be protests. As this is entirely a mining-affected region, a written request was also submitted to provide grants to the Laxmipur Shishu Mandir school.
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