March, 2026 Newsletter: In Odisha’s Lanjiberna village, Dalmia forces mining expansion even as villagers protest

 

NEWSLETTER

MARCH 2026

JUSTICE IN MINING NETWORK

SOUTH ASIA

MESSAGE

Dear friends, 

Johar!

March 22-23 is marked by the victorious people’s movement against land acquisition for the Netarhat Field Firing Range. March newsletter brings the news of mining expansion, especially of the so-called critical and strategic minerals. The central government is determined to extract minerals and have also amended laws to remove the consent and consultation process with the affected communities, especially in the Scheduled Areas. State governments are also safeguarding the private mining companies as is seen the Scheduled Areas of Lanjhiberna, Odisha where heavy police force is deployed to tackle the resisting Kisan and Oraon Adivasis. Displacement will result in disintegration of the communities and possible extinction of the sense of community as Dr Dangi argues that the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Adani have risked the existence of 76 villages of Badkagaon and Karanpura. 

Adivasi, farmers and aware citizens are protesting the forced land acquisition. State is maligning the rightful resistance of the communities by labelling them as Naxals. Operation Kagar, the central government’s anti-naxalism operation that aimed to end naxalism by 31 March, 2026 has received national and international opposition because the intense militarised counter-insurgency operations have resulted in extra-judicial killings of innocent Adivasis. State’s determination to acquire land and facilitate foreign private companies such as Vendata in Sijimali, Odisha is escalating into human rights violation as heavy deployment of police force firing and charging at the resisting Adivasis. Twenty-one Adivasis, including 11 women were picked up by the police on the night of 10 March. This is a grave matter of violations of human rights. 

The environmental performance of India continues to dip as protective laws are being amended, diluted or openly flouted without consequences. The draft Mines and Minerals (Amendment) Bill, 2026 proposes to remove area limits on the size of mining leases, allowing significantly larger areas to be brought under a single concession in a state. Such extension of mines without new consent and consultation of the communities will have dangerous impact on the local people as well as overall ecology in the long run. Further, the tall claims of “development” from mining is questioned as serious corruption involving the District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) is exposed. One of the most startling findings relates to 16 LED vans purchased for publicity purposes in Bokaro using DMFT funds. 

Justice in Mining Network looks forward to your solidarity and feedback. 

justiceinminingnetwork@gmail.com

Compiled by: Deepti Mary Minj

Edited by: Dr P.M. Tony 

MINING EXPANSION

Ministry of Mines to Launch Seventh Tranche of Auction of Critical and Strategic Minerals

Union Minister of Coal & Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, along with Minister of State for Coal & Mines, Satish Chandra Dubey, launched the 7th Tranche of Auction of Critical and Strategic Mineral Blocks on March 23, 2026. The global transition towards so-called “clean energy” and advanced technologies has significantly increased the demand for minerals such as lithium, graphite, rare earth elements (REE), tungsten, vanadium, titanium and other rare metals. the Government of India amended the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act) on 17 August 2023, notifying 24 minerals as Critical and Strategic Minerals. This amendment empowers the Central Government to auction Mining Leases and Composite Licences for these minerals. The revenue generated from these auctions accrues to the respective State Governments. So far, the Ministry of Mines has launched six tranches of auctions, with 46 critical and strategic mineral blocks already auctioned.  The Seventh Tranche will offer 19 blocks across several States under Mining Lease and Composite Licence. Recent reforms, including the Mineral (Auction) Second Amendment Rules, 2025, have streamlined post-auction timelines such as submission of performance security, upfront payment and issuance of Letter of Intent. Additionally, the Mineral (Auction) Amendment Rules, 2026 have introduced the provision of Insurance Surety Bond as an alternative to bank guarantees, enhancing flexibility for bidders. The auction will be conducted online through a transparent two-stage ascending forward auction process. Click here to read more. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2243514&reg=1&lang=1  

In Odisha’s Lanjiberna village, Dalmia forces mining expansion even as villagers protest

The agricultural land that was demolished on 13 December 2025. Photo taken on 12 February. Photo: Nikita Jain/Maktoob

“We are tribals. Our whole existence is the land. We nurture the plants, feed the animals and keep the ecosystem alive, but now that same ecosystem is fumbling because of corporate greed,” Mary Jemma Kullu (68) said while sitting in her modest brick house in Lanjiberna. Lanjiberna is currently a hotbed of protest the corporate giant Dalmia Cement Bharat Limited (DCBL). On 25 February, four platoons of Odisha Police, allegedly along with company goons, entered Lanjiberna with JCBs and started digging the already destroyed farm, even as the locals staged protests. A similar incident had happened on 13 December 2025. Locals alleged that in the middle of the night, in heavy police presence, the agricultural land was demolished. Locals told that the cement giant has illegally acquired 28 acres of farming land to expand its mining project. Despite the Supreme Court hearing that was to take place on February 26, the digging continued, even on February 26. People gathered, and the site also turned into a protest site demanding that the Collector and the Superintendent of Police (SP) at least wait for the court order. However, to no avail. Neeranjan Kerketta, a young man who is a resident of Lanjiberna, told Maktoob that the police used brute force and detained men and women when they were protesting the illegal expansion. Bibol Toppo, a 46-year-old resident of Kukuda village, local activist, and petitioner in the case, said that despite the existence of the PESA Act of 1996 (Provisions of the Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas), it has not been implemented in Odisha, which comes under the Fifth Schedule. Click here to read more.  https://maktoobmedia.com/india/in-odishas-lanjiberna-village-dalmia-forces-mining-expansion-even-as-villagers-protest/ 

The entire Karanpura will be wiped out if we do not understand - Dr. Mithilesh Dangi.

Dr. Mithlesh Dangi discusses the devastating impacts of indiscriminate mining in the Barkagaon and Karanpura areas of Jharkhand on local residents and the environment. Dr. Dangi explains how 76 of Barkagaon's 84 villages are on the verge of extinction. Villages like Chirudi, Nangri, and Churchur have been completely wiped out or buried under debris due to the allocation of coal blocks to large industrial houses like NTPC and Adani. 83 coal blocks have been allocated across the Karanpura region, affecting Hazaribagh, Chatra, and Ramgarh districts. This is causing large tracts of land to become barren and fertile soil to be destroyed. Click here to watch more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlrzuTSiI64 

CIVIL ACTION

Stop Operation Kagaar

On March 28, Indigenous Peoples and broad sectors of Filipino organizations joined the Global Day of Action Against Operation Kagaar in Phillippines. The groups held a protest in front of the Commission on Human Rights in Quezon City on March 28. The action highlighted similar struggles of the Filipino people and peoples of India against violent counterinsurgency wars carried out by neocolonial, fascist regimes such as Modi’s and Marcos’. Human rights watchdogs found that 1 in 3 victims of extra-judicial killings in the name of the “war against communism” are Indigenous Adivasis. The violence carried out through Operation Kagaar has only escalated in the recent months as the Modi government repeatedly claimed that Maoism in India will see its end by March 31st this year. “Modi’s Operation Kaagar is similar to the NAP-UPD of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. here in the Philippines, which is used to suppress people resisting U.S. imperialism,” said Mong Palatino of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan. Click here to read more. https://www.ipmsdl.org/uncategorized/stop-operation-kagaar/

Villagers Resist Coal Mining Survey Investigation in Latehar, Jharkhand

Tensions rise in Latehar, Jharkhand, as villagers protest a coal mining survey investigation, citing violations of the PESA Act and demanding prior approval from the gram sabha for any such work in the scheduled area. Villagers resisted police investigation into the obstruction of a ground survey work done by a coal mining unit at Kaima village in Jharkhand's Latehar district on 5 March, an officer said. Latehar Superintendent of Police Kumar Gaurav told PTI that villagers were angry over ground survey work done by a company at the Tubed Coal Mining Project in their villages and had seized the drone camera used for the survey and forcibly seized the survey materials last week. Local villager Bahadur Tana Bhagat alleged that the police were attempting to detain some youths and taking them to the police station, to which the villagers resisted. "The area falls within the Scheduled Area, and the PESA Act (Panchayats Extension to the Scheduled Areas Act) applies here, and any survey work done in the village can only be done after the prior permission of the gram sabha. In this case, it was not done, which led to the protest," alleged Bhagat. Click here to read more. https://www.rediff.com/news/report/villagers-resist-coal-mining-survey-probe-in-jharkhand/20260305.htm 

No Endangering Our Paradise: Why Villagers in Deepawas Are Refusing to Let Their Hills Be Mined

Villagers of Deepawas and a few other surrounding villages at their dharna site atop a hillock just outside the entrance to the Ojaswi mine on February 22, 2025. Photo: Aathira Perinchery/The Wire.

Villagers in Deepawas, Rajasthan, resisting an iron ore mining project near the Aravalli hills. The hills are ecologically vital, supporting biodiversity, groundwater recharge, and the Girjan river, which sustains around 40 villages. Residents fear mining will destroy hills, pollute water with toxic metals, and collapse local agriculture and livelihoods. Villagers, who were allegedly not consulted, began protests and approached the Supreme Court. Authorities later acknowledged the site lies within the Aravallis and ordered a halt to mining. The struggle reflects tensions between development, environmental protection, and community survival. Click here to read more. https://thewire.in/environment/deepwas-aravalli-villagers-mining-ground-report  

Tijimali: The entire area has become a battlefield, with tribals standing firm against Vedanta after eating only one meal a day

March against the proposed bauxite mines

Vedanta’s  Sijimali (Tijimali) bauxite mining project (1,549 ha, 9 MTPA) in Odisha’s Kalahandi–Rayagada region has been opposed by the affected villages like Malipadar, Kutamal, and Tijimali. Indigenous Dongria Kondh communities oppose diversion of forest land they depend on and consider sacred, alleging lack of consent and threat to livelihoods. On the night of March 10th, an ongoing dispute between residents of Talampadar village in Kalahandi district and a pro-company villager escalated. Police arrived in the village at midnight and abducted 21 tribals, including 11 women. They randomly raided homes and broke down several doors. Of the 11 women abducted, one was a 19-year-old pregnant woman, three were minors, and some were children with very young children. They are being held in the Bhawanipatna District Jail in Kalahandi district. It turns out that only a few of the hundreds of police personnel were in uniform. They were accompanied by several private vehicles. Tensions continued to escalate between March 10 and 13. Drones are being used to monitor the whereabouts and movements of people. On March 13, police chased five prominent members of the Maa Mati Mali Suraksha Manch. They outran the police as they ran up the hill, but Umakant Naik lagged behind and was promptly arrested. This is the second time he has been detained.  Since March 19, hundreds of villagers from Pulingapadar have been camping indefinitely in the Kurkuti forest block to prevent the company's bulldozers from felling trees and destroying sacred groves, land they have traditional rights to under the Forest Rights Act. Click here to read more. https://followupstories.com/culture/half-fed-tribals-of-tijimali-are-fighting-against-vedanta-to-save-their-land/  

Over 20 million displaced, half of them Adivasis: Ranchi meet takes on corporate colonialism

A two-day national conference on “Climate Change, Privatisation of Public Resources and Public Welfare,” held on March 17 and 18 at the Bagaicha Social Centre in Ranchi, saw activists, researchers and community leaders from several states adopt six resolutions sharply criticising government policies on forest diversion, mining expansion and the privatisation of common lands.  Organised by the Justice in Mining Network, Campaign to Defend Nature and People, and Azadi Bachao Andolan, the conference brought together participants from Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and other states. The resolutions, passed unanimously, call for an immediate halt to the diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes, particularly mining and road projects, and demand that ownership of natural resources be vested in local communities rather than the state or private corporations. The first resolution strongly opposed all attempts to divert forest land, stating that such projects displace Adivasis and other traditional forest dwellers, forcing involuntary migration and destroying their livelihoods, indigenous knowledge and democratic culture. Rejecting the doctrine of “eminent domain,” the resolution asserted that forests belong to forest dwellers and are not state property. It criticised amendments to the Forest Conservation Act and the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, which were introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic when public protests were severely restricted. Click here to read more. https://www.counterview.net/2026/03/over-20-million-displaced-half-of-them.html?m=1 

Pastoral Economy, Policies and Ecology in India – An Overview

The webinar organized by the Campaign to Defend Nature and People  (CDNP) and the National Forum for Climate and Environmental Justice (NACEJ), describes the dynamics of pastoralism and grazing lands in the Indian context. How many pastoralists are there in India? What ecological resources do they depend on? What is the size and scale of the pastoral economy? How does the pastoralists' view of ecosystems differ from the state's? What happens when these views clash? These are some of the questions the webinar addressed. Presenters: Aniruddha Sheth (Centre for Pastoralism, New Delhi) Mayank Kohli (National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru)  Click here to watch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHV9FYpiRy8 

Sankalp Diwas 22-23 March against the Netarhat Field Firing Range

Youth performing resistance songs against displacement, Tutwapani, Mahuadanr

The struggle against the Netarhat Field Firing Range in Jharkhand is not just a historical movement—it remains deeply relevant today as a powerful example of sustained, community-led resistance against displacement and militarisation of Adivasi lands. On 22–23 March 2026, people once again gathered at Tutuapani to mark this legacy. The annual observance is not merely symbolic—it reaffirms resistance, honours collective memory, and renews the call: “We will give our lives, but not our land.”

For over three decades, Adivasi communities across Latehar and Gumla have resisted the expansion of a military firing range that threatened their homes, forests, and ways of life. Despite repeated attempts by the state to extend the project—often without transparency or consent—the movement has relied on non-violent resistance, legal provisions like the PESA Act, and the collective strength of gram sabhas (village assemblies).

A defining moment came in March 1994, when thousands gathered at Tutuapani and peacefully blocked army exercises, marking a historic assertion of people’s power. Since then, the movement has continued through protests, petitions, and annual commemorations. Even today, the demand is not just to halt expansion but to permanently cancel the project. The state’s 2022 decision to stop the extension was a significant victory, but communities remain vigilant.

Pollution Penalties to Fund New Environment Protection Fund

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is investigating Fairminea Carbon for polluting the Sadabah River in Palamu, Jharkhand, by discharging untreated wastewater from a coal mine. The probe focuses on violations of environmental norms, specifically allegations that the firm encroached on a required 15-meter safety barrier along the riverbank for mining activities, the case highlights the conflict between industrial development and environmental protection. The firm is accused of releasing industrial effluents into the Sadabah River, causing significant environmental damage. Concerns were raised regarding illegal mining practices and failure to maintain the mandated safety barriers near the water body. Fairmine Carbons Pvt. Ltd. won the contract for the Rajhara North coal mine, faces scrutiny over compliance. The mining activities have reportedly threatened the local ecosystem, impacting water quality in the region. Click here to read more. https://www.carboncopy.info/pollution-penalties-to-fund-new-environment-protection-fund-mo-s 

Mining without limits: Why removing mining lease ‘area limits’ is a bad idea

A revision in India’s mining law is on the cards, with potential implications for vast tracts of land, forests, and the lives of communities living in mineral-rich regions. The draft Mines and Minerals (Amendment) Bill, 2026 proposes to remove area limits on the size of mining leases, allowing significantly larger areas to be brought under a single concession in a state. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act) has long been the backbone of mineral governance in the country. It sets out the framework for the exploration, allocation, and extraction of mineral resources, and structures the relationship between the state, mining companies, and communities living in mineral-bearing areas. The removal of area limits would affect leases for a wide range of major minerals such as iron ore, bauxite, chrome ore, copper, gold, manganese, lead and zinc. It would also extend to strategic and critical minerals such as lithium and rare earth elements, which have attracted growing policy attention. The government has justified this move by arguing that larger leases will increase participation in auctions, attract investment, enhance competitiveness, and enable economies of scale. However, the implications of removing area limits extend well beyond questions of efficiency or output. Click here to read more. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/mining/mining-without-limits-why-removing-mining-lease-area-limits-is-a-bad-idea 

Where is the DMFT and CSR money going? You'll be shocked to learn the truth! DMFT scam in Bokaro: 16 LED vans missing, ₹40 crore 'Bala Painting' under lens

The Income Tax Department’s probe into the alleged District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) scam in Jharkhand has expanded significantly after the recovery of ₹51 lakh in cash, with fresh findings pointing to missing LED vans, inflated procurement, and suspicious payments worth crores of rupees in Bokaro district. The cash recovery prompted the Income Tax Department’s Investigation Branch (Ranchi) to initiate raids on February 24 at 15 locations across Ranchi, Bokaro and Hazaribagh linked to DMFT-funded projects. Subsequent searches led to the seizure of documents suggesting large-scale financial irregularities, inflated bills and possible diversion of public funds. One of the most startling findings relates to 16 LED vans purchased for publicity purposes in Bokaro using DMFT funds. The vans were procured through Bokaro-based firm Prakash Xerox under Work Order No. 430. The company was paid ₹2.99 crore for the purchase. Click here to read more. https://thejharkhandstory.co.in/dmft-scam-in-bokaro-16-led-vans-missing-%E2%82%B940-crore-balaji-painting-under-lens/ 

Deadly Pond of India: Red Mud Pond | Koraput, Odisha | Documentary

Red mud pond formed due to toxic waste generated by bauxite processing, Koraput

This documentary, filmed in Koraput, Odisha, exposes the devastating environmental and human impact of Red Mud ponds—the toxic waste generated by bauxite processing for the aluminium industry. The toxic residue from the ponds leaches into the local water supply, wells, and groundwater, particularly during the rainy season. Residents report skin diseases, cancers, and vision problems after using this water. In the summer, the ponds dry out and the toxic dust is carried by the wind into nearby villages, leading to severe respiratory and health complications. While water sprinkler systems were installed to control dust, they are described as inadequate and largely ineffective at covering the entire dumping area. The contamination has made the land infertile, destroying farming as a source of income for local villagers who have struggled to cultivate crops for years. The documentary emphasizes that while mining is crucial for industrial development, the current "irresponsible" practices and lack of basic healthcare facilities for affected villagers represent a massive failure in duty. Click here to watch more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8zk_9FT1ZM 

Conservation Projects in Adivasi Areas: Another Face of Militarisation and Land Expropriation

This session, titled "Conservation Projects in Adivasi Areas: Another Face of Militarisation and Land Expropriation", explores the intersection of forest conservation, state-sponsored militarisation, and the marginalisation of Adivasi (indigenous) communities in India. Aditi explains how protected areas, particularly Tiger Reserves, are often transformed into high-security zones. This involves intensive policing through check-posts, surveillance, and restricted access, which effectively alienates Adivasi communities from their traditional lands and livelihoods. The speakers highlight how the state often categorizes the displacement of communities as "voluntary," despite testimonies to the contrary. Basic services like schools and healthcare are frequently restricted in these areas to pressure communities into leaving. Traditional practices and livelihoods, such as the gathering of Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) and the use of traditional tools, are increasingly framed as criminal activities or security threats. The speakers cite specific instances where members of Adivasi communities were harassed or accused of poaching/insurgency without evidence. Aditi argues that conservation policies are often linked to larger state agendas of land expropriation. Tiger reserves act as mechanisms for controlling land, which can then be used to offset industrial projects or facilitate tourism and resource extraction under the guise of "environmental protection." Simanchal Aachari details the ongoing struggles in the Achanakmar Tiger Reserve. He shares how local communities have organised to demand their Community Forest Resource (CFR) rights, resist forced displacement, and challenge the state's narrative that classifies them as enemies of conservation. The discussion addresses the "governance of convenience" between the central government (NTCA) and state governments, where both entities often deflect responsibility for the legal violations and humanitarian impacts occurring within these protected landscapes. Click here to watch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTYdbgdHALM 

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