Residents of tribal villages in southern Odisha protest against a proposed road to the Sijimali hill bauxite mining project on which their survival depends | Photo credit: Biswaranjan Rout
Sporting graying hair and a thin moustache, Hamdu Majhi, an unassuming Kondh tribesman in his 60s, is visibly upset. His voice trembles, but his words are firm. They claim that no matter what modern machinery is deployed, no road will be able to reach the top of the imposing 1,223-metre Sijimali hill, spread across Rayagada and Kalahandi districts of southern Odisha.
Hamdu, a resident of Uparamapadar village in the foothills of Sijimali, standing in Bichhapinda along National Highway 44, speaks not only for himself but also for the entire community, which is preparing for a confrontation. He is far from alone. Under the punishing summer sun, the peace of the forest is shattered whenever a vehicle approaches. Elderly women, nursing mothers holding babies, children and men with axes rush out almost in unison as they see vehicles stop on the highway, just from where the 2.98km driveway is proposed to begin its climb up the hill they call home and their lifeline.
Published – 17 Apr 2026 06:40 IST
