Socio-Economic Impact of Industrialisation and Mining on the Local Population: A Case Study of Nalco Industrial Area, Koraput

Abstract

National Aluminium Company (NALCO), Damanjodi is a govt. owned Navaratna company located in the major bauxite mining district of Odisha. The vast majority of the local population around NALCO are SCs and STs and most of them are employees of the company. On the contrary, it has a displacement effect on the tribals and creates water, air and sound pollution. Considering the above, this paper attempts to explain the significance of industrialisation and its impact on the local economic development through a case study in three peripheral villages of NALCO industrial area. In view of the specificity of the topic, we relied on primary data. The relevant information has been elicited from 100 residents of three surrounding villages of NALCO namely Kapsiput, Analabadi and Goudaguda through a special questionnaire. The findings reflect both positive and negative effects of mining, refinery, aluminium smelter and industrial effluents of NALCO on human and ecological health, pattern of livelihood, income, education and settlement of local population etc. and, finally, it suggests alternatives and improvements to prevent environmental and health degradation and, to actively promote education, health and economic development around industrial sites.