If this project is cleared, then it will be an environmental disaster. More over, this will lead to the the displacement of Dongria Kondhs. This is not a normal displacement as the Niyamgiri mountain is revered as their God. They call it Niyama Raja. Uprooting a self sufficient people will not only result in making them dependent on the outside world for survival, it will also bring them untold hardships as they are not used to this alien world.

Moreover it will result in death of culture, religious values and beliefs. They will soon be forgotten after some compensation is given. And worse is the loss of dignity that comes when they become just an unfortunate face (read beggars, coolies etc) in the crowd.

What use is the development which comes at the cost of environmental degradation. India's civilisation has been enriched by the various cultures, values and beliefs of its people staying in various parts of this country. What use is the development which doesn't respect such diversity and comes as a messenger of death (read Yamdoot) for cultures?

I urge you to kindly write to the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India asking him to reconsider his decision of supporting a move which is going to force such tremendous miseries on our people and devastate the environment.

Sabyasachi