By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR/JODA/KOIRA/SUKINDA: Private Mining Companies working under Joda-Koira, Rairangpur, Sukinda mining circles of Odisha’s mineral rich Keonjhar,Sundargarh, Mayurbhanj and Jajpur districts not following Re-Grassing Guidelines after mining in leased out areas. The Union Forest and Environment Ministry has made re-grassing of mined-out areas a mandatory condition, among others, while giving green clearances to mining projects but in ground nothing seems to be implemented.
Odisha has now 134 working mines including 125 major and 9 specified minor minerals. Under Baripada circle, 5 including 2 major and 3 specified minor mining blocks followed all 27 major blocks under Koira, , all 25 major blocks under Joda, all major 6 under Keonjhar and all major 12 blocks under Jajpur Road are working now. Many of these mining firms, not following Re-Grassing Guidelines in Odisha, blatantly flouting Forest Conservation Act-1980. “Near about 21 mining blocks are all to start operations while 9 more virgin blocks will be put for auction in Odisha, it will largely hit forest and wildlife, sources said.
“If proper re-grassing would have been done, hundreds of acres of land in these 4 districts, that was mined, restoring to a condition that is fit for the growth of fodder, flora and fauna,” a local activist in Joda-Barbil in Keonjhar said adding that these firms were blatantly flouting Forest Conservation Act-1980, which empowers the MoEFCC gives clearance for diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes like mining or infrastructure projects like road or railways
Under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, the MoEFCC gives clearance for diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes like mining or infrastructure projects like road or railways. While giving such clearances, the MoEFCC stipulates that the project proponent shall undertake mining in a phased manner and shall undertake concurrent as well as final reclamation of the mined over the area. The status of reclamation of mined-out areas is regularly monitored by ten regional offices of the environment ministry across India.
India produces over 80 minerals and less than three percent of India’s Gross Domestic Product comes from mining. To increase the country’s growth rate, there has been constant talk of increasing mining activities. In such a scenario, if there is an increase in mining activities, the proper closure of mines once the activity has ended and reclamation of land – carried out by activities like landscaping, soil improvement and re-vegetation of the mined land – will gain more significance.
“The mining lease holder shall, after ceasing mining operations, undertake re-grassing the mining area, and any other areas which may have been disturbed due their mining activities and restore the land to a condition which is fit for growth of fodder, flora, fauna, etc,” said the MoEFCC order to all States.
Odisha is the State wherein most auctions have been concluded at exorbitant premiums, which currently is making the Government smile. However, this happiness would be very short-lived if they do not intervene at present and put across their view at the Center wherein most laws are enacted. The State themselves have to find ways to stop the various tactics which are being and will be adopted by these corporates to become profitable in a situation where they were unprofitable from the day they won the auctions, they added.
