Bhubaneswar, June 17: The Dongria Kondh tribes, who have long been opposing mining in the Niyamgiri hills, today staged a protest rally and demanded complete withdrawal of Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL) from the area.

The tribal people of Kalahandi and Rayagada districts reasoned that since the palli sabha held under the Supreme Court directive had given their verdict against mining in the hills, the authorities should bar the company's activities completely in this area.

Several hundreds of tribal men and women residing at around 80 villages atop the hills today gathered at a meeting at Sakata village under muniguda block in Rayagada. The Niyamgiri Surakshya Samiti organised the meeting.

They are of the opinion that Vedanta's refinery plant at Lanjigarh has been damaging the environment. Noise and air pollution caused by the refinery had affected their lives and livelihoods.

A samiti member said it was surprising that despite the palli sabha decision against mining, the state government had failed to ask VAL to move out of the area.

"Due to the refinery's activities at Lanjigarh, the area is becoming polluted. The excessive lighting drove away birds and animals from the hills, and the pollution has reduced the size and quality of fruits. The leaves here are always covered with thick layers of ash," said Lingaraj, convenor of the samiti, adding that as the company did not get mines, it should shut down its refinery here.

The tribal people warned that they would take law into their hands if the government failed to take any action against the company and shut down its refinery.

A villager said they would live peacefully only if the factory got shifted from the area. "The factory must go, the mining activities should stop. Then only our hills, lands, water, air and Niyamraja will survive along with us. Unless we get our demands fulfilled, we will continue our agitation," said samiti secretary Lado Sikka.

Over 7,000 tribal people, who live on the hills, consider Niyamgiri as their presiding deity who lives on top of the hills. The hill spreads over Rayagada and Kalahandi districts and is rich in bauxite.