Tribal Affairs Minister Kishore Chandra Deo has questioned the veracity of an MoU between Odisha Mining Corporation, OMC and the private firm – Vedanta for mining in the tribal-dominated Niyamgiri forest areas of the state.

Talking to reporters in New Delhi, Mr Deo said the MoU is against the letter and spirit of the constitution and its provisions. The MoU between the OMC and Vedanta was signed in 2003 for mining in tribal-dominated Niyamgiri forest areas of the state.

The Minister claimed that mining did not improve financial or living conditions of the people in these areas as development was never inclusive.