Adani group acquires Odisha farm land near sacred hills, stirs political slugfest

BHUBANESWAR: Adani Group’s acquisition of agricultural land near the mineral-rich and sacred Gandhamardhan Hills in Odisha‘s Balangir district has sparked a political controversy, with opposition parties questioning whether the company intends to undertake mining in the area. Adani Group and BJP have dismissed the concerns.
According to govt land records, Adani Group subsidiary Mahanadi Mines and Minerals Private Limited purchased 18 acres in Khaprakhol tehsil, near the hills, which are estimated to contain 207 million tonnes of bauxite deposits.
Demanding clarity from govt , BJD MLA Kalikesh Singh Deo asked, “Is there any plan for exploration in Gandhamardhan?” Congress’s Sarat Pattanayak said any attempts to mine the sacred hills would face strong opposition. “We will not allow even a stone to be moved from the sacred hills,” he said.
BJP MLA Tankadhar Tripathy cited Odisha Biodiversity Board’s Oct 2024 notification for the area’s development. “There is no question of mining. Gandhamardhan is rich in medicinal plants and deeply connected to people’s emotions,” he said. An Adani Group official said the land acquisition was intended for compensatory afforestation related to Bijahan coal mine project in Sundargarh district.