Skip to main content

Gujarat lignite mines contaminating river, pastoral land, sinking land: Centre warned

Counterview Desk
Well-known environmentalists Rohit Prajapati and Krishnakant of the Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti, in a letter to the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Government of India, with copies to the Chief Secretary, Gujarat; CEO, Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority; other senior officials of industries, mines, environment and forest departments, have sought “urgent Investigation” to study the “unfolding disaster” at Badi-Hoidad Lignite Mines, Bhavnagar district, Gujarat, where land is “sinking.”
Pointing out that, on their visit to the area on October 1-3, they witnessed contamination of river and pastoral land, the letter demanded that there should be “a drone survey led by experts’ team to study and put on record the environmental disaster” in order to suggest measures to tackle the problem, insisting, the “ongoing illegal mining, illegal dumping of mining waste” should be stopped forthwith and “errant” officials should be punished.

Text:

This is to bring to your urgent notice the unfolding environmental disaster at Badi - Hoidad and neighbouring region due to illegal lignite mining and its ongoing dumping activities.
Following accounts of Badi, Padva and neighbouring villagers, on October 1, the 12 Gam Khedut Sangharsh Samiti, Badi Padva and Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti (PSS) visited the mining waste dumpsite 350 meters away (location high hillock - 21.609352, 72.226347) from Badi village. We observed that the dumpsite is sinking since late night October 1, and again on October 3, we estimated it too have sunk by about 25-30 feet deep and around 150 meters length.
At the same time to (location 1.6063300, 72.2268610) the Maleshree River that flows 350 meters away from the Badi Village and the village pastoral land (location 21.6231430, 72.2264560) about 1.5 kilometres away from Badi village is contaminated due to the illegal mining waste flowing into it and is fast being rendered unfit for agriculture and animal husbandry needs. The river condition has worsened following the rains in the region.
We put on record and bring to your notice the continuous adverse impact of the illegal mining dump waste that takes each time in new ways. We had earlier brought to your notice the unfolding environmental disaster that has struck the region in our letters referred above which are unaddressed by the concerned authorities despite repeated reminders.
The mining waste hillock estimated to be around 150 meters in length (location 21.609352, 72.226347) is sinking rapidly in the ground, a phenomenon which needs immediate expert assessment and investigation. To our observation the hillock is sinking in the ground; and seems to neither erode nor is being washed away due to rains. It is beyond a layperson's understanding what is causing the land to sink so rapidly.
The illegal mining waste flowing in from the mining waste hillock on the other side is contaminating the Maleshree River at location 21.6063300, 72.2268610. This river water is used for both agriculture and also fulfils the drinking needs of the cattle, as well as recharges the groundwater. The resulting  contamination is also seeping into the underground water and also the contaminated river water is impacting the agricultural produce and gradually the water is becoming unfit for the cattle.
Rohit Prajapati during site visit
The illegal mining waste washed over the pastoral land (location 21.6231430, 72.2264560) due to the rains has rendered it barren, making it unfit for pasture cultivation. This pastoral land supported the grazing needs of the cattle of Badi village and neighbouring villages. As a result, the expenses of the cattle upkeep have increased phenomenally, while the unfolding environmental disaster is adversely impacting the quality of life and livelihood of a self-sustaining rural community.
We demand the following actions from the concerned authorities on an immediate basis to assess, investigate and study the unfolding environmental disaster.
  1. The competent authority should carry out a drone survey led by experts’ team to study and put on record the environment disaster and suggest short – medium – long term measures to tackle it.
  2. As sought by the villagers earlier, we again reiterate our demand to stop the ongoing illegal mining, illegal dumping of mining waste and set an exemplary action against the company’s top officials, and all errant authorities who failed to take timely action against the offenders.
We expect your prompt and positive response in the interest of life, livelihoods, and environment in the affected areas. If you fail in your mandatory duties, you as responsible authorities and as individuals, will be collectively liable for present conditions and future consequences.

Comments

TRENDING

A comrade in culture and controversy: Yao Wenyuan’s revolutionary legacy

By Harsh Thakor*  This year marks two important anniversaries in Chinese revolutionary history—the 20th death anniversary of Yao Wenyuan, and the 50th anniversary of his seminal essay "On the Social Basis of the Lin Biao Anti-Party Clique". These milestones invite reflection on the man whose pen ignited the first sparks of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and whose sharp ideological interventions left an indelible imprint on the political and cultural landscape of socialist China.

Two more "aadhaar-linked" Jharkhand deaths: 17 die of starvation since Sept 2017

Kaleshwar's sons Santosh and Mantosh Counterview Desk A fact-finding team of the Right to Feed Campaign, pointing towards the death of two more persons due to starvation in Jharkhand, has said that this has happened because of the absence of aadhaar, leading to “persistent lack of food at home and unavailability of any means of earning.” It has disputed the state government claims that these deaths are due to reasons other than starvation, adding, the authorities have “done nothing” to reduce the alarming state of food insecurity in the state.

Epic war against caste system is constitutional responsibility of elected government

Edited by well-known Gujarat Dalit rights leader Martin Macwan, the book, “Bhed-Bharat: An Account of Injustice and Atrocities on Dalits and Adivasis (2014-18)” (available in English and Gujarati*) is a selection of news articles on Dalits and Adivasis (2014-2018) published by Dalit Shakti Prakashan, Ahmedabad. Preface to the book, in which Macwan seeks to answer key questions on why the book is needed today: *** The thought of compiling a book on atrocities on Dalits and thus present an overall Indian picture had occurred to me a long time ago. Absence of such a comprehensive picture is a major reason for a weak social and political consciousness among Dalits as well as non-Dalits. But gradually the idea took a different form. I found that lay readers don’t understand numbers and don’t like to read well-researched articles. The best way to reach out to them was storytelling. As I started writing in Gujarati and sharing the idea of the book with my friends, it occurred to me that while...

What's behind Donald Trump's 'narco-state' accusation against Venezuela

By Manolo De Los Santos  The US government has revived its campaign to label Venezuela a "narco-state", accusing its top leadership of drug trafficking and slapping hefty bounties on their heads for capture. This campaign, which only momentarily took a backseat, is a strategic fabrication, not a factual assessment. This accusation, particularly amplified under the Trump Administration, is a calculated smokescreen to justify a long-standing agenda: the overthrow of the Venezuelan government and the seizure of its vast oil and mineral resources. A closer examination of the facts reveals a country that has actively fought drug trafficking on its own terms and a US government with a clear and consistent history of destabilizing independent countries in Latin America.

New RTI draft rules inspired by citizen-unfriendly, overtly bureaucratic approach

By Venkatesh Nayak* The Department of Personnel and Training , Government of India has invited comments on a new set of Draft Rules (available in English only) to implement The Right to Information Act, 2005 . The RTI Rules were last amended in 2012 after a long period of consultation with various stakeholders. The Government’s move to put the draft RTI Rules out for people’s comments and suggestions for change is a welcome continuation of the tradition of public consultation. Positive aspects of the Draft RTI Rules While 60-65% of the Draft RTI Rules repeat the content of the 2012 RTI Rules, some new aspects deserve appreciation as they clarify the manner of implementation of key provisions of the RTI Act. These are: Provisions for dealing with non-compliance of the orders and directives of the Central Information Commission (CIC) by public authorities- this was missing in the 2012 RTI Rules. Non-compliance is increasingly becoming a major problem- two of my non-compliance cases are...

N-power plant at Mithi Virdi: CRZ nod is arbitrary, without jurisdiction

By Krishnakant* A case-appeal has been filed against the order of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and others granting CRZ clearance for establishment of intake and outfall facility for proposed 6000 MWe Nuclear Power Plant at Mithi Virdi, District Bhavnagar, Gujarat by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) vide order in F 11-23 /2014-IA- III dated March 3, 2015. The case-appeal in the National Green Tribunal at Western Bench at Pune is filed by Shaktisinh Gohil, Sarpanch of Jasapara; Hajabhai Dihora of Mithi Virdi; Jagrutiben Gohil of Jasapara; Krishnakant and Rohit Prajapati activist of the Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a notice to the MoEF&CC, Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and case is kept for hearing on August 20, 2015. Appeal No. 23 of 2015 (WZ) is filed, a...

1857 War of Independence... when Hindu-Muslim separatism, hatred wasn't an issue

"The Sepoy Revolt at Meerut", Illustrated London News, 1857  By Shamsul Islam* Large sections of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs unitedly challenged the greatest imperialist power, Britain, during India’s First War of Independence which began on May 10, 1857; the day being Sunday. This extraordinary unity, naturally, unnerved the firangees and made them realize that if their rule was to continue in India, it could happen only when Hindus and Muslims, the largest two religious communities were divided on communal lines.

Ground reality: Israel would a remain Jewish state, attempt to overthrow it will be futile

By NS Venkataraman*  Now that truce has been arrived at between Israel and Hamas for a period of four days and with release of a few hostages from both sides, there is hope that truce would be further extended and the intensity of war would become significantly less. This likely “truce period” gives an opportunity for the sworn supporters and bitter opponents of Hamas as well as Israel and the observers around the world to introspect on the happenings and whether this war could have been avoided. There is prolonged debate for the last several decades as to whom the present region that has been provided to Jews after the World War II belong. View of some people is that Jews have been occupants earlier and therefore, the region should belong to Jews only. However, Christians and those belonging to Islam have also lived in this regions for long period. While Christians make no claim, the dispute is between Jews and those who claim themselves to be Palestinians. In any case...

Fate of Yamuna floodplain still hangs in "balance" despite National Green Tribunal rap on Sri Sri event

By Ashok Shrimali* While the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday reportedly pulled up the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for granting permission to hold spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's World Culture Festival on the banks of Yamuna, the chief petitioners against the high-profile event Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan has declared, the “fate of the floodplain still hangs in balance.”