Bhubaneswar, Aug. 11 -- Environmental activists and people's movement leaders on Tuesday launched a strong opposition to what they described as the Odisha government's indiscriminate granting of bauxite mining leases, warning that large-scale mining in the Eastern Ghats could destroy forests, deplete water sources and threaten the livelihoods of thousands of tribal and rural families.
The National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and the Centre for Climate Justice demanded the immediate withdrawal of mining leases already granted and cancellation of auction proceedings for proposed bauxite mines across the state.
Addressing a press conference here, eminent environmentalist Prafulla Samantara, people's movement leader Narendra Mahanty...