Church of England to visit Orissa mining site

Published Date: October 19, 2009

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A Church of England official will visit a tribal sacred area in Orissa where mining company Vedanta Resources plans to open a bauxite mine, reports said.

The Church’s decision comes after Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury expressed concerns about the project. The project of the Vedanta Resources, in which the Church has hare holdings, has been facing opposition from tribal people.

Archbishop Williams while speaking at Southwark Cathedral this week, said he had asked officials in charge of the church’s investments to look into a mining company with controversial activities, reported the Guardian.

The church, which has a £2.5m share in the mining firm, has been under mounting pressure to withdraw its stake following controversies.

The mining project if goes ahead is “like bulldozing down Westminster Abbey or St Paul’s Cathedral,” says Jonathan Mazower, a researcher at Survival International. it’s not only going to destroy these people’s livelihood but the whole foundation of their religion, because they worship the mountain, he said.

Vedanta reportedly plans an open-cast mine on Niyamgiri mountain in Orissa. Activists believe it will destroy the area’s ecosystem and threaten the future of the 8,000-strong Dongria Kondh tribe, who depend on the hills for their crops and water. They believe the mountain and surrounding forest are the sacred home of their god Niyam Raja.

Survival International has met the church’s Ethical Investment Advisory Group on several occasions in an attempt to inform them about Vedanta’s activities in Orissa. “We want them to know about all the difficulties.

“Vedanta are so powerful in that area that there is a culture of fear in the area of Vedanta’s refinery. So when the church goes to the area, it is important that they meet people who have been affected by this.”

The church said an official would travel to Orissa with Vedanta on the understanding that they could go off unaccompanied to conduct their own research.

Source: Church mission to Vedanta site in India (guardian.co.uk)

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