Summary:
Nagpur, Oct 27 (PTI) Tribals in Etapalli taluka of Maharashtra"s Gadchiroli district have begun an indefinite sit-in protest seeking cancellation of an iron ore mining project.
The local tribals launched the protest on October 25 under the aegis of "Surjagarh Paramparik Ilaka Gotul Samiti" against the iron ore mining project at Surjagarh, demanding cancellation of lease granted to a private company.
Talking to PTI over phone, Ramdas Jarate, local leader and state committee member of Shetkari Kamgar Paksh, said they have written to the Centre and the state government several times over the years raising objection over the mining activities in Gadchiroli.
The protesters alleged that the lease given to Surjagarh mining project is in violation of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA Act), 1996 and the Forest Rights Act.
They also say that they were not taken into confidence before the mining lease was issued.
"We want the agreements of Surjagarh and 20 other mining leases in Gadchiroli be cancelled," he said.