Greenpeace's new salvo against industry group Adanis' Aussie coalmining project: Save endangered bird

By A Representative
In a fresh attack on Gujarat’s powerful Adani group, which in one of its world’s most high-profile operations is contracted to mine a top coalfield in Australia, the international environment body Greenpeace has asked the Aussie government’s federal environment minister Greg Hunt to use his powers “to immediately order an investigation into the potential impacts of exploration activities by the Indian coal giant”.
Greenpeace has alleged, the Adani has “endangered Australian finch at the site of proposed Carmichael coal mine in Queensland’s Galilee Basin” by continuing with the operation, despite opposition from the local groups. In a statement, it has added, “Greenpeace Australia Pacific's investigations show Adani has ignored its legal obligation under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, 1999 to apply for an approval to undertake seismic testing in prime habitat for the black-throated finch (southern), which is listed as endangered.”
It pointed out, Greenpeace cited the top group’s controversial environmental record in India, especially at Mundra, where it has developed India’s most important private port and special economic zone, to say, “Adani Mining Pty Ltd, the proponent behind the Carmichael mine which will be the biggest black coal mine in Australia, has an embarrassing record both in India and Australia of violating environmental conditions, illegal activity and destroying natural places.”
The Carmichael project is proposed to produce export coal meant for the Indian market. The mine would be linked to the coast by a new railway line, crossing farmland and floodplains. Greenpeace has said, even this is not without controversy. “The expansion of Abbot point will involve the dredging and dumping of 3-million cubic metres of seabed in the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef. Huge coal stockpiles and machinery will be wedged between the delicate Caley Valley wetlands and a turtle-nesting beach, less than 100m away.”
Signed by Louise Matthiesson, Greenpeace Australia Pacific Climate Campaigner, the statement said, “The tiny finch is the canary in our coal mine. The minister for environment can make sure Adani complies with all Australian environmental laws, or he can turn a blind eye to their plans to damage one of the last strongholds for this endangered bird. Greenpeace has expert scientific advice that the exploration work has the potential to have a significant impact on the finch, which has already disappeared from 80 per cent of its natural range.”
It underlined, “It would be madness to push an endangered Australian bird further towards extinction for the sake of an Indian owned coal mine which may never go ahead. Adani’s poor environmental record, coupled with recent analysis showing that the mining project is uncommercial, strengthens the case for postponing seismic testing at the Carmichael coal mine site until a proper assessment of its impact on this endangered bird.”
The statement said, “The minster should press the pause button on seismic testing and direct his Department conduct a vigorous study interrogating what impact testing will have on the bird’s habitat and conservation efforts.” It added, “The seismic surveys at the Carmichael mine site are likely to involve slashing undergrowth vegetation and removing trees under 30cm diameter, along strips 4.5m wide, across a total of 3899 hectares of important Black Throated Finch habitat.”
It further said, “Under the EPBC Act, companies have a legal obligation to refer any activity that could have a significant impact on an endangered species to the Environment Department for assessment.” Hence, Minister Hunt use his power “under s70 of EPBC Act to call in the project for urgent assessment and his department is examining the issue.” It has added, in case “Adani proceeds with seismic survey work at the mine site, without referring the matter for assessment, an offence may be committed under s18 of the EPBC Act”, and Greenpeace may take legal action.

Comments

Manufacturing, services: India's low-skill, middle-skill labour remains underemployed

By Francis Kuriakose* The Indian economy was in a state of deceleration well before Covid-19 made its impact in early 2020. This can be inferred from the declining trends of four important macroeconomic variables that indicate the health of the economy in the last quarter of 2019.

Why Indo-Pak relations have been on 'knife’s edge' , hostilities may remain for long

By Utkarsh Bajpai* The past few decades have seen strides being made in all aspects of life – from sticks and stones to weaponry. The extreme case of this phenomenon has been nuclear weapons. The menace caused by nuclear weapons in the past is unforgettable. Images of Hiroshima and Nagasaki from 1945 come to mind, after the United States dropped two atomic bombs on the cities.

Food security? Gujarat govt puts more than 5 lakh ration cards in the 'silent' category

By Pankti Jog* A new statistical report uploaded by the Gujarat government on the national food security portal shows that ensuring food security for the marginalized community is still not a priority of the state. The statistical report, uploaded on December 24, highlights many weaknesses in implementing the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in state.

Incarceration of Prof Saibaba 'revives' the question: What is crime, who is criminal?

By Kunal Pant* In 2016, a Supreme Court Judge asked the state of Maharashtra, “Do you want to extract a pound of flesh?” The statement was directed against the state for contesting the bail plea of Delhi University Professor GN Saibaba. Saibaba was arrested in 2014, a justification for which was to prevent him from committing what the police called “anti-national activities.”

Civil society flags widespread violations of land acquisition Act before Parliamentary panel

By Jag Jivan Civil society organisations and stakeholders from across India have presented stark evidence before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj , alleging systemic violations of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013 , particularly in Scheduled Areas and tribal regions.

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.

Protesters in UK cities voice concerns over alleged developments in Bastar region

By A Representative Demonstrations were held across several cities in the United Kingdom on March 28, as groups and activists gathered to protest what they described as state actions in India under the reported “Operation Kagar.”

Concentration of wealth in India at levels 'comparable to colonial times', says new report

By Jag Jivan A new report published in March 2026 by the Centre for Financial Accountability and the Tax The Top campaign paints a stark picture of deepening economic disparity in India, documenting a concentration of wealth that it argues is “comparable to colonial times.” Titled Wealth Tracker India | Tax the Top. Close the Gap , the compilation presents data from the World Inequality Database and the Hurun Rich List to illustrate the meteoric rise of the ultra-wealthy alongside the stagnation and debt burdens of the majority.

Beneath the stone: Revisiting the New Jersey mandir controversy

By Rajiv Shah A recent report published in the British media outlet The Guardian , titled “Workers carved the largest modern Hindu temple in the west. Now, some have incurable lung disease,” took me back to my visits to the New Jersey mandir —first in 2022, when it was still under construction, though parts of it were open to visitors, and again in 2024, after its completion.

Search This Blog