Expressing deep concern over the auctioning of bauxite reserves in Odisha, environmental activists on Tuesday (August 11, 2026) alleged that the State’s current bauxite production, far exceeding the country’s requirements, is destroying the ecologically sensitive hill ranges of the Eastern Ghats.

“The indiscriminate granting of bauxite mining leases will deplete the State’s mineral resources and destroy its sustainable water sources. The government should immediately cancel the bauxite deposits already allotted and withdraw the auction notifications for upcoming mines,” said environmentalist and Goldman Environmental Prize winner Prafulla Samantara at a press conference.

“The intrinsic nature of bauxite ore — a precious gift of nature — is to absorb rainwater, store it underground and release it gradually through natural springs after the rains. These springs feed perennial streams and rivers. Wherever bauxite-bearing regions exist across the globe, they are considered ‘water sponges’,” Mr. Samantara said.

He said more than 55% of the country’s bauxite deposits are concentrated in five southwestern districts of Odisha — Bargarh, Balangir, Kalahandi, Rayagada and Koraput.

These deposits are spread across several hill ranges, including Gandhamardan, Niyamgiri, Karlapat, Khandualamali, Manjiamali, Sijimali, Kuturumali, Sasu-Bohumali, Baphlimali, Kodingamali, Nageswari Hill, Panchapatamali, Pottangi Hill, Karnakonda, Serubandha and Deomali.

“Mining operations are currently underway at Panchapatamali, Baphlimali and Kodingamali under leases granted to the Central public sector undertaking National Aluminium Company [NALCO], the State-run Odisha Mining Corporation [OMC] and the Aditya Birla Group. The drying up of water sources, pollution of rivers and streams, and destruction of forests are adversely affecting millet cultivation and agriculture,” Mr. Samantara alleged.

Speaking on the occasion, human rights activist Narendra Mohanty said producing bauxite far beyond the country’s requirements, depleting Odisha’s resources and destroying the bauxite-bearing and highly sensitive Eastern Ghats amounted to an injustice to future generations.

“Uprooting the livelihoods of lakhs of people and depriving them of their right to survive is deeply unjust and unconstitutional,” he said.

“Leases have already been granted to various companies in mountain ranges in Koraput district, including Serubandha, Nageswari Hill, Karnakonda, Sijimali and Kuturumali. The auction process for the ecologically sensitive forests of Karlapat has also been completed. Moreover, notifications have been issued for the auction of three mountains near Tikiri in Kashipur’s Sasu-Bohumali area. Leases have already been granted to the Adani Group and Vedanta Group,” Mr. Mohanty said.

“Now, under the guise of creating an alumina hub, groups such as Adani and Vedanta are influencing the State government and competing to acquire mines. As a result, water sources in the Kashipur and Thuamul Rampur regions and Koraput district — including the Kolab, Saberi, Jhanjavati, Nagavali, Hati and Tel rivers and numerous tributaries — will dry up and become polluted,” he further alleged.

The activists said around 50 waterfalls in the Sijimali, Kuturumali and Jalaput reservoir areas, 18 waterfalls in Karlapat and 36 perennial streams on Mali Hill could disappear if mining activities continue.

They said this would deprive thousands of families of forest produce, millet and agricultural resources, potentially triggering a severe food crisis and accelerating climate change.

“The mining leases granted so far have violated the Forest Rights Act, the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 [PESA], and the Odisha Scheduled Areas Transfer of Immovable Property (By Scheduled Tribes) Regulation, 1956, effectively stripping Gram Sabhas of their rights,” said activist Biswajit Ray.

Mr. Ray said tribal communities continued to mobilise against what he described as the “loot of bauxite”, despite police action and imprisonment.

“We appeal to conscious citizens and call upon leaders of all political parties to exert pressure on the government to halt such unnecessary and indiscriminate mining, resist corporate favouritism and reject policies that sell off the State’s land to run the government. We urge the government to hold consultations on the issue,” the activists said.