By A Representative
A recent report by two civil rights groups,
Samata and Mines, Minerals and People (MM&P), has expressed serious concern
over possibilities of sharp rise in mining in eco-sensitive zones of Gujarat, especially because lately construction activities are all set to see a drastic upsurge in the Petroleum, Chemical and Petrochemical Investment
Region and other special investment regions of the state. The report, titled “Sharing
Summary of Experiences in Mining Regions of India with Legislators, Decision
Makers and Civil Society”, expresses the fear that “the demand for construction
materials is going to rise, which is seeing large scale illegal mining in
rivers as well as undermining common property resources to set up industrial
units.”
Gujarat currently accounts for 1,152 mining
leases as on March 2011 out of a total of 11,003 mining leases, which comes to
nearly 10.47 per cent of the country. The total mining area in the
state (except for fuel and atomic
minerals) is spread over 30035.65 hectares. The authors of the report, whose Gujarat part has been prepared by state civil rights activist Ashok Shrimali, believe, that the situation is particularly grim,
as limestone, one of the principal mineral for cement industry required for
construction, is currently totally administered at the state level.
Apart from limestone, Gujarat has large
reserves of bauxite, lignite, gypsum, agate and dimensional stone and a few
other minor minerals. Kutch, Amreli, Jamnagar, Junagarh and Porbandar have
large number of leases of bauxite and limestone.
“The inlands from the arc extending from
Gulf of Kutch to Gulf of Khambhat have milliolite limestone, which is sandstone
category of rocks in South Saurashtra”, the report says, adding, “A series of
industries dot this arc including cement industry and soda ash, a series of
deep pits can be seen along the NH along the Porbandar coast and Ambaji.” It
calls the Gir National Park as “one of the hotspots of dimensional stone mining,
and illegal mining has been widely reported from this region along the
periphery and within the park.”
It regrets, the activity continues at a time
when “the Centre has to still prepare and finalise guidelines for inviolate
areas for mining around protected areas.” There are several notifications which
regulate mining in Gujarat. For Gir and the Girnar (Junagarh) area, which has tropical
dry deciduous forest, mining continues in in the surrounding areas, though there
are clear-cut “directions” which say that “no mining shall be allowed and no
major changes in landscape shall be allowed that affects hydrology and ecology
of the region.”
Another arid region where no mining should
be permitted is Narayan Sarovar sanctuary in Kutch district, in whose
neighbourhood rich in minerals like bauxite, limestone and laterite are found.
As per Supreme Court directions, “no mining and crushing shall be allowed
within three km radius from the outer boundary of Narayan Sarovar sanctuary.”
The third eco-sensitive zone is Vansda national
park, which is contiguous to the Western Ghats. The report says, according to “directions”
for this zone, in the area up to five km from the boundary of the protected
area no mining and crushing is allowed. Only quarrying of sand for local use in
Tapi and Navsari districts in river beds is permitted in consultation with the
state forest and environment department.
The report underlines, “Gujarat has been
known for water scarcity and it becomes acute during the summer months,
milliolite limestone acts as a permeable membrane and helps in natural
protection against salinity ingress but as mining this mineral from shallower
depths has increased the pace of mining and poses increased threat to available
freshwater availability.”
It points towards how whistle-blowers in
Gujarat who have fought against illegal mining are victims of local mafia. “The
instance of Amit Jetwa’s murder in 2010 was resultantly due to his possessing
vital information on illegal mining around Gir”, it says, adding, “The Gir Youth Nature Club got a setback but is
committed to challenge anything which is unlawful. The case has been
transferred to the CBI for investigation.”
The report says, “The activists and
organisations in the region had forewarned in mid 90s about the consequences of
mining in the fragile region of coastal Gujarat and the results are obvious in
terms of progression of salinity towards inland, water consumptive industries
like cement extracting water from private wells through some arrangements,
making agricultural production and its cooperatives risk prone.”
Meanwhile, the report says, a coalition of
tribals across Gujarat and Rajasthan is conducting dialogues among civil
society on rightful implementation of the laws that provide autonomy to the tribals
in the tribal areas under the fifth schedule of the constitution. It is trying
to “understanding impacts of mining on the social ecology of people, especially
tribals. The state mineral development corporations of Gujarat and Rajasthan “major
minerals under their operation like bauxite in Kutch, lignite in Junagarh and Bharuch
and rock phosphate, gypsum, limestone and lignite in Rajasthan.”
The report underlines, “As they also trade in
these minerals, it is particularly important and necessary that the spirit of
Samta Judgment be followed as it is much valid in modern circumstances where
conflicts are rising and the coinciding laws like Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (or PESA), and Forest
Rights Act are kept primary to showcase constitutional duty by enabling
regulations and rules to accomplish the directive principles as enshrined in
the Constitution of India”.
The report gives the instance of mining in Tadkeshwar
village, which is situated in Mandavi taluka of Surat district, where lignite
mining project is introduced by the Gujarat Mining Development Corporation. “Dilemma
to part away with land with meagre compensation as well as coping with guarded
environment during public consultation (public hearing) has put the community
in tremendous pressure. On top of this,
mining project there is also an express highway proposed that will demand more
land from the same village community”, the report says.
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