CURRENT NEWS

APRIL 2010

 

Ministry calls for regulating mining of minor minerals

New Delhi, April 29, 2010:: The ministry of environment and forests has recommended bringing the mining of minor minerals under a “simple but strict” regulatory  regime to limit its adverse environmental impact. The recommendations are aimed at curbing illegal and unregulated mining of minor minerals such as marble, stones used for making household utensils, slate and shale, sandstone, saltpeter and boulder. Serious ecological degradation resulting from the virtually unregulated mining of minor minerals has been a cause of concern. The Supreme Court had, in the context of mining of minor minerals in the Aravallis, asked the ministry and the state government to step in to stem the damage. In March 2009, a group was constituted by the ministry under the chairmanship of the environment and forest secretary to look into the environmental aspects associated with mining of minor minerals. The group, which submitted its report in March this year, has recommended measures to ensure that regulatory aspects and environment mitigation measures are integrated in the mining of minor minerals. Reexamining the classification of minerals into minor and major, uniformity in size of mines across the country, a minimum five-year period for mine leases, cluster approach for mines, plan for reclamation and rehabilation of mined areas, uniform minor mineral concession rules are among the steps suggested to ensure scientific and sustainable mining. In India, the classification of minerals into minor and major is done on the basis of end-use. The global practice for such a classification is based on level of production, mechanisation, export and import. In terms of economic cost and revenue, the total value of minor minerals is about 10 per cent of the total value of mineral production.

(Source:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Ministry-calls-for-regulating-mining-of-minor-minerals/articleshow/5870527.cms)

Illegal mining going on for long time : CEC

Kolkata/ Bhubaneswar, April 28, 2010: The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) of the Supreme Court of India has inferred that illegal mining was going on in Orissa for a long time in violation of the forest conservation act, air and water act and various norms of environmental clearance. The CEC, which was hearing a case pertaining to illegal mining activities in the state, has highlighted these issues in its interim report submitted to the Apex court. The main hearing on the case is scheduled to be taken up on May 7. The findings of the CEC are based on the submissions made by the applicant and the Orissa government in the matter. The CEC report also mentioned that the production level in many mines was above the quantity approved in the mining plan (MP).Besides, a large number of mines remained operational for long period of time, even after the expiry of the mining leases due to the delay in taking decisions on renewal applications filed by the lease holders.  In large number of cases, the forest areas approved under the Forest Conservation Act (FCA) were lesser than the forest areas included in the approved mining plan. Lack of co-ordination between steel and mines department and forest department resulted in inadequate enforcement, the report pointed out. Stating that the deemed extension clauses are primarily meant for contingency situation to ensure that the mining operations doesn’t come to an abrupt halt, it said, because of delay in taking decisions on renewal applications, this provision should not be availed indefinitely. Since continuing mining over a long period without renewal of mining lease becomes a potential source of irregularity, it is desirable that it should be decided in a time bound manner, the report observed. It stated that for both Renewal Mining Lease (RML) and mining lease (ML), the lessees would have to pay the Net Present Value (NPV) of the forests for the entire lease area as per the Supreme Court direction of 2002. This is expected to fetch the state government about Rs 1000 crore additional revenue. It emphasized that for mining operations, the mining plan needs to be approved by the competent authority and the environmental and other statutory clearances must be obtained. The interim report submitted by CEC also lists the steps taken by the Orissa government, though belatedly, during the last 3-4 months to check illegal mining in which 163 lease operations without requisite approvals were suspended. Mentioning that a regulatory system has been put in place to check transportation of illegal minerals through railways, rakes and port authorities, it said, comprehensive guidelines were issued on April 16 to railways to check transportation of illegally mined ores. Besides, the State Level Task Force and the District Level Task Force (DLTF) have been further strengthened. However, shortcomings remain to be dealt with on priority basis so as to comply with the Forest Conservation Act, Environmental Protection Act and other statutory provisions and rules. Towards this objective, the recommendations are made for consideration of the Supreme Court, the report said.

(Source:http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/illegal-mining-goingfor-long-timecec/393210/)

SC refuses to lift stay on Lafarge mining

New Delhi, April 27, 2010: Demands more environment impact reports by next hearing. Despite a favourable report from a committee of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and pleadings of Attorney General Goolam Vahanvati, the Supreme Court today declined to lift its ban on mining by French cement firm Lafarge Umiam Mining Ltd in Meghalaya. A bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan sought further reports from the ministry by July regarding the environmental impact on the forest area. Till then, the stay on mining imposed by the court on February 5 will continue. The court expects the reports by then for further consideration.  The apex court on February 5 had stopped Lafarge from carrying out limestone mining in Meghalaya for its cement plant in Bangladesh, saying mining in the environmentally sensitive zone cannot be allowed. The Bench had stayed mining activities on the basis of a MoEF report which had said the company was extracting minerals from the land falling in the forest area. The $255-million Lafarge Surma Cement project at Chhatak, in Bangladesh is wholly dependent on limestone extracted from East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya. Limestone is transported from Meghalaya to Bangladesh in a 17-km-long conveyor belt. The National Environment Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur, has already conducted a study for preparing “comprehensive engineering and biological measures”. This was the first report demanded by the court. It also wanted periodic assessment of flora and fauna and a time-bound plan for its conservation. Third, the court expects a comprehensive biodiversity conservation plan to be funded by the French firm. Fourth, surface miner technology should be explored to reduce environmental impact. The Attorney General stated that all the conditions earlier proposed for restarting the mining activity have been complied with. Moreover, the company will pay nearly Rs 100 crore to the special purpose vehicle to be set up on the Vedanta model (for mining in Orissa). Moreover, the company would pay Rs 90 per tonne to be used for the development of the region. He proposed a monitoring committee to oversee the compliance of the conditions. If there are violations, the court must stop the operations. Otherwise the company should be allowed to function, in view of the fact that the raw materials are being supplied to the largest company in Bangladesh, with which India has long friendly relations. However, Harish Salve, senior counsel appointed by the court to assist it in this case, pointed out that the MOEF committee had confessed that it did its survey in two days, “hurriedly, in limited time”. A more detailed study should have been undertaken. Countering the arguments about business losses, Salve said the court had earlier kept environmental concerns above company profits. He pointed out that the Vedanta project in Orissa was held up for two years; a vital government scheme like the Sardar Sarovar project waited for four years for court clearance; hundreds of saw mills run by small businessmen in the east were closed down, and tanneries in Kanpur and Tamil Nadu were allowed to function only after installing effluent treatment plants. The closure of the Kudremukh mines in Karnataka was another instance where the court insisted on strict compliance of the environment orders, counsel said. Salve said the situation of the French company cannot be measured by different yardsticks, as it would send different signals to the industry. There are several big projects awaiting clearance and this case raised “far-reaching issues”. He asserted that Lafarge obtained sanction by “misrepresentation”. Instead of going through the step-by-step process, it got clearance first and started the project and is only now opening itself for environmental scrutiny. Countering the Attorney General’s caution about international obligations to Bangladesh and foreign investors, Salve said that under several treaties, “we can’t even touch that area, as it is a biodiversity hotspot”. He showed photos to the judges to emphasise the environmental degradation in Cherrapunji, once a thick forest with the world record in rainfall. Lafarge counsel F S Nariman reiterated that the company obtained clearance after going through each stage in the rulebook. “Still, we are paying a heavy penalty,” he said. A local tribal association, Shella Action Committee, vehemently opposed the lifting of the stay on mining. It said that the MOEF committee sat in a hotel and met a few tribals before hastily writing its report.

(http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/sc-refuses-to-lift-staylafarge-mining/393136/)

Court refuses to lift stay on mining by Lafarge

New Delhi, April 27, 2010: The Supreme Court on Monday declined to vacate its stay order restraining the French company Lafarge from conducting mining operations in Meghalaya. A Bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justices S.H. Kapadia and Aftab Alam made it clear that the interim order of stay on mining passed on February 5 could not be vacated until appropriate reports relating to plans and environment were submitted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) after receipt of proper proposals from the company. The Bench said that it was not inclined to accept the April 22 report of the MoEF granting environmental clearance for allowing mining activities with certain conditions as suggested by the Attorney General G.E. Vahanvati. The Bench accepted the submissions of Amicus curiae Harish Salve and senior counsel P.S. Narasimha that all the procedures had been violated in this case just because it was foreign company. Mr. Salve submitted that reports in respect of four crucial aspects were necessary before the court could consider allowing the mining operations. Mr. Narasimha said while a foreign company was welcome to invest in India, it must conform to Indian laws. In this case the entire procedure had been violated if mining was allowed without following the laws, it would send wrong signals, he said. Mr. Salve said that a study as stipulated for preparation of a comprehensive engineering and biological measures with scheduled plan of execution for approval was required to be submitted to the MoEF. Periodical assessment of flora and fauna including a time-bound plan for conservation of the same should be undertaken immediately by the project proponent as recommended in the Digital Mapping report. A comprehensive Bio-diversity conservation with provision of time-bound implementation should be prepared by the state agency and requisite fund for implementation in a time-bound manner might be provided by the company. The Bench asked the MoEF to come out with the reports on these aspects in July.

(Source:http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/27/stories/2010042752231300.htm)

SC refuses to lift stay on Lafarge mining, says clearance ‘hurried’

New Delhi, April 27, 2010: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to accept the Centre’s environmental clearance for mining operations by French cement major Lafarge in Meghalaya forests. A special forest bench, headed by Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan, refused to allow Lafarge Umiam Mining Private Limited (LUMPL) mine limestone in Meghalaya’s east Khasi Hill districts, while declining to consider a “hurriedly” procured environmental clearance certificate prepared by the environment and forests ministry. The three-judge green bench led by Chief Justice of India KG Balakrishnan asked the government to conduct studies on four crucial aspects relating to environmental and bio-diversity impact caused by the mines to the area. LUMPL extracts 6,500 tonnes of raw limestone every day and its annual output is over two million tonnes. The limestone extracted is exported via a conveyor belt to Lafarge’s Surma plant in Bangladesh. This material accounts for 15 per cent of the cement production in the neighbouring country. But the bench refused to be impressed with the 31 conditions put forth by the ministry as a pre-requisite for grant of clearance. The bench today directed the government to file a comprehensive report by July 2010 after conducting “a periodic assessment of the flora and fauna and devise a time-bound plan for conservation of the same”.

(Source:http://www.indianexpress.com/news/SC-refuses-to-lift-stay-on-Lafarge-mining--says-clearance--hurried-/611714)

Govt for changes in Mining Act to develop tribals areas spotlight

New Delhi, April 27, 2010: The government has proposed changes in the Mining Act to bolster development works as part of its two-pronged strategy in regions under Maoist domination, which are being cleared by security forces.  The New Draft Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act envisages setting up of ‘’mining area welfare funds’’, where profits of companies can be shared in perpetuity with local villagers and tribals whose lands are taken away. Currently, a one time compensation is mostly given to those whose lands are taken away by the companies, a government official said. The government is also mulling bringing provisions which include grating free equity to those who give a major portion of land to companies, the sources said. The amendment in the mining act is likely to come up for approval by the Union Cabinet soon. The government is also trying to build in provisions where companies may be asked to build `'model villages'' within a 10 km radius of the industry being set up to enable maximum benefits of development reach the local villagers. For the setting up of power plants, the government will be asking the authorities to provide free electricity within 10 km radius , the sources said. Notably, the government is also in the process of withdrawing cases against tribals for accessing minor forest produce. “It will take some time before these steps show some success in the Maoist regions. But when the tribals and local villagers become the first beneficiaries of development in their region, it will become very difficult for the Maoists to influence them and wean them away,” a government official said. The official said that one of the biggest problems being faced in the Maoist regions is that the rebels are using the tribals and local villagers to block and even attack the development initiatives being undertaken by the government in the regions.

Meanwhile, the government has sanctioned Rs 95.61 crores to Maoistaffected states, including West Bengal, under the "special assistance scheme" to carry out speedy development. The amount has been sanctioned to Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal during last fiscal of which Rs 30 crores has been released as first instalment. "Rs 10.59 crores has been sanctioned to West Midnapore district of Bengal and Rs 3.40 crores was released during the last fiscal year," an official said.

(Source:http://epaper.asianage.com/ASIAN/AAGE/2010/04/27/ArticleHtmls/27_04_2010_003_012.shtml?Mode=1)

Illegal mines put Orissa in a spot

New Delhi, April 27, 2010: The Naveen Patnaik government appears headed for serious trouble as the Supreme Court on Monday sought its response on its environment panel — Central Empowered Committee — report accusing it of allowing 215 mines to operate in forest areas despite their leases having expired. An angry amicus curiae Harish Salve told the special Bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices S H Kapadia and Aftab Alam that there was something seriously amiss in the enforcement of environmental guidelines as these mines have been blindly given “deemed extension” despite expiry of the leases, though the state has since taken belated corrective measures. Acting on a petition filed by a Oriya daily editor, Rabi Das, the CEC sought an explanation from the Patnaik government on the allegations that mines were operating illegally in forest areas, a charge substantiated by the state itself when it said it had seized illegally mined iron ore and bauxite.

(http://epaper.timesofindia.com)

On environmental violation

April 26, 2010: Long-term greedy is a term that a Goldman Sachs partner made famous, by way of self-definition . It is as good a description as any of making profits in a sustainable fashion. Lafarge displayed short-term greed when it violated the law in obtaining forest clearance for a limestone mining project in Meghalaya’s Khasi hills, to supply raw material for its own cement plant in neighbouring Bangladesh . It described the mining site as a near-wasteland to obtain forest clearance, which turned void after it was established that the mining site had indeed been thick forest . By granting forest clearance to Lafarge's limestone mining operations in Meghalaya now, the Environment Ministry has done this country a disservice. By mining limestone without a forest clearance, the company had violated the Forest Conservation Act and possibly the Environment Protection Act as well. Now, under pressure from the French, Bangladesh and multilateral donors who bankrolled the project, the Indian government is trying to regularise the project. As a penalty, it has suggested the company pay some fines. The implications are unnerving . In part because if the government's proposal is accepted by the Supreme Court, it will create a precedent where any company can win clearances on the basis of misleading affidavits and later press for regularisation. And in part because the government evidently thinks it can apply India's laws selectively. Accepting fait accompli in the matter of deforestation or violation of other laws intended to protect fragile ecology and vulnerable communities is a recipe for long-term pain and suffering. The culpable agency should be penalised, not rewarded with the proceeds of its crime. It is possible to take the view that the forests have, in any case, been irreversibly damaged at the mining site and that mining should continue. A viable solution that makes the polluter pay and, at the same time, protects the economic activity at stake is to levy penalties on Lafarge for its actions, expropriate the mine and auction it off to some other party, who can then supply limestone to the cement plant in Bangladesh. Such an option is, indeed, viable and superior to the sale of environmental indulgences.

(Source:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/editorial/On-environmental-violation/articleshow/5857985.cms)

State’s coal vault to be empty in 30 years

Hyderabad, April 25, 2010: The fast depleting reserves of coal in the state have become a matter of worry for the industry. Recent reports indicate that coal reserves in the state will only last for another 20-30 years. Studies by the Geological Survey of India attribute as much as 16,997 million tonnes of coal to the Godavari valley coalfield. Though the coal extracted by Singareni Collieries, a state-owned coal mining company, from the Godavari valley coalfield up to 2008-09 was only about 962 million tonnes, the studies revealed that only 9384.33 million tonnes of coal are left in the four coal-rich districts in the state. “Over a period of 120 years in the company, the shallow depth reserves have either been exhausted or in the process of working” revealed a study conducted by the Singareni Collieries Limited, where both the Centre and state governments have stakes. Cement, ferro alloys, captive power units, ceramic and steel projects in the state depend mostly on Singareni coal. Thus the report from the colliery — which operates a total of 55 underground and 12 opencast mines — has sent shock waves across the industry. “The gap between demand and supply reached 11.34 million tonnes, even as the Singareni achieved a record 50 mt production,” said Mr S. Narsing Rao, the chairman and managing director of Singareni. Depending upon the depth, coal deposits have been categorised as 0-300, 300-600 and 600 meters and above. Virgin areas for opening new underground mines are available only at depths beyond 300 meters. At this depth problems of ventilation will become more complex as the strata temperatures will also increase due to the geo thermo gradient, thus requiring significant capital. To beat the heavy strata conditions, the Long Wall mining system has been introduced in coal mines. “With higher wage component and higher cost of imported technology, the cost of production leaps to Rs 1,200 to Rs 5,200 per tonne in typical underground mines. Only 4 mines of the total 36 have made marginal profits and 22 have not even earned the wages for the workers,” said Mr Rao. The underground mines have incurred losses of about Rs 542 crore to Singareni in 2009. The situation becomes worse considering the fact that open cast mines across the Telangana districts are facing severe opposition from the people. Starting from environment degradation to health hazards, open cast coal mines are now seen as a threat to agriculture and public health. “These open cast mines are like death traps for the Telangana people. We will not allow these mines to continue. We will fight for their closure tooth and nail,” said Mr K. Chandrasekar Rao, TRS president.

(Source:http://www.deccanchronicle.com/hyderabad/state%E2%80%99s-coal-vault-be-empty-30-years-398)

Kudremukh Controversy

Steel Ministry, K’taka Govt and Mining Lobby Seek to Reopen Mining despite SC Ban

April 23, 2010: The Supreme Court shut down mining in Kudremukh National Park, Karnataka, after a long-drawn case but that has not stopped the Union government, the state government or the miners from trying to reopen the biodiversity hot spot. Kudremukh is the second largest protected area in the tropical wet evergreen type of forest of the Western Ghats. Spread over 600 square kilometres, it is home to three big carnivores — tiger, leopard and the wild dog. Gaur, sambar, wild pigs, Muntjac and Lion-tailed Macaques also populate the dense forest patch. But the steel ministry and mining lobby are keen to reopen mining in the park. Alternatively, proposals to turn the once mined area into a luxury resort or a police training centre are also being floated. This, despite the apex court rejecting even review and curative petitions asking for reopening of the mines.     With various agencies still hoping to use the land for their pet projects, the mining area has not been restored. On the contrary, five years after the apex court ordered a shut down at Kudremukh, the government continues to spend Rs 60 crore every year to maintain the plant and equipment at the site illegally. In 2005, the apex court ordered the closure of mining by Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL) in 4,505 hectares of the green patch in the park. The order came after environmental groups in Karnataka pursued the matter despite a disinterested State. The court made scathing comments against the public sector undertaking, saying, “It has been found that KIOCL has used the concerned period (between its first and final order for closure) to carry on commercial operations without taking necessary steps for winding down operations.”  The court even accused the company of using dilatory tactics to prevent its closure. The court ordered that the mines should be shut, the equipment dismantled, the forest land restored as a national park and the slopes stabilized using the compensation of Rs 19 crore the public sector undertaking had deposited. The order came only after the Comptroller and Auditor General had noted that KIOCL had illegally mined 56 hectares of forest land next to the Lakya Dam on Bhadra river which passes through the forest patch. The CAG estimated a loss of Rs 139.15 crore as costs of the environmental damage. But with the state government and the mining lobby unrelenting and unwilling to return the forest land to its original status, the environmentalists have got their antennas up. The issue was discussed at the last National Board of Wildlife meeting, members told TOI. Sources in the environment ministry confirmed that the steel ministry had approached them to discuss the possibility of reopening the area into a resort, with a golf course to boot. When contacted on the issue, Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh said, “The park has already reached its carrying capacity (for non-forestry projects) and we will not allow any unsustainable activity in the tiger-bearing national park.” But the Union steel ministry has not given up hope as yet and neither has KIOCL. Sources say that the company is scouting for an environmental group, which it could fund, to study if mining can be started in the park yet again, this time claiming it would use new and cleaner techniques.

(Source:http://epaper.timesofindia.com/)

Industrialisation, mining adding to heat?

Bhubaneswar, April 23, 2010: With mercury rising across the State and the Indian Meteorological Department citing strong wind from Rajasthan for the heatwave like condition, are there other factors contributing to the phenomenon? While experts feel that it could be part of the entire global warming effects, others feel that there could be local reasons to this. According to Prof GK Panda of PG department of Geography, Utkal University, with central India heat belt created due to a rapid industrialisation activities including super thermals and metallurgical units, there could be inflow of hot winds from that region via western and central Orissa. Also with rapid industrialisation, mining activities and loss of forest cover in this region in Orissa, this effect could have worked as a catalyst in increasing the temperature, he said. Apart from the development activities, loss of traditional and non-traditional water bodies do contribute as local factors to the rise in temperature, he pointed out. Earlier, due to dense forest cover, the heatwave from central and western Orissa was confined to the central region, but it is now reaching the coastal belt, he said.  Prof. Ashok Kumar Sahoo of the department of Forestry, OUAT, said temperature rise is a complex phenomenon as it could be related to global warming and climate change. Even a small change in salinity level in the sea could have negative impact in algal population, hence change in the temperature of sea wave blowing towards the landmass. In another way, due to climate change our forests are also not growing properly creating more imbalances on land, so we have to study multiple issues to reach a conclusion on the temperature rise, he said.

(Source:http://expressbuzz.com/states/orissa/industrialisation-mining-adding-to-heat/167641.html)

Mining meet

Dhanbad, April 23, 2010: Scientists, academics and officials from more than 50 organisations and institutes across the country congregated at the Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR) here to partake in a seminar on “Meeting Rock Mechanics Challenge of Deep Underground Mining”. The three-day event has been organised by the Indian National Group of International Society of Rock Mechanics in association with CIMFR and Central Board of Irrigation and Power. The director-general of Directorate General of Mines Safety, S.J. Sibal, was the chief guest. Sibal said the huge demand for energy and the consequent increase in coal production has made deep underground mining imperative for which advanced scientific technique is necessary. “The existing open cast mining technique allows us to dig 150m into the mine but with advanced scientific technique, we can delve deeper till 400m,” he added. Chairman-cum-managing director of Northern Coal Fields Limited V.K. Singh, on the other hand, pointed out that increased coal production from open cast mines will require deep mining, which would give rise to environmental and social hazards.

(Source:http://telegraphindia.com/1100423/jsp/jharkhand/story_12371141.jsp)

Coal cos asked to fund wildlife management

Talcher, April 23, 2010: In view of large-scale destruction of forest cover due to coal mining, the Forest Department has sought around Rs 7.17 crore from various coal mining authorities for wildlife management plan. The money has been levied at the rate of Rs 20,000 per hectare. According to information received by a wildlife activists and lawyer Bauri Bandhu Bez from Angul forest division office under RTI Act after the money collected from coal authorities will be spent on development of wild animals in nearby Kanheijena reserve forest and other adjoining forest areas. There has been depletion of huge forest cover like dense Rakus forest at Talcher for coal mining where wild animals inhabit. Now they have migrated to nearby jungles like Kanheijena at Samal area near here, Bez bemoaned. Coal mines against which the money has been charged are Natraj, Jagannath, Ananta, N Adira and Bhubaneswari.

(Source:http://expressbuzz.com/states/orissa/coal-cos-asked-to-fund-wildlife-management/167656.html)

Boom in mining digs up Earth’s grave

Hyderabad, April 21, 2010: The boom in the mining sector is having a devastating effect on the ecology and environment of the state particularly in Rayalaseema and the tribal areas. The AP Pollution Control Board’s recent analysis has found that pollutant levels in the air are increasing at an alarming rate in the mining areas.  Apart from this, the key issues that worry environmental scientists are water pollution in and around mining areas, massive loss of vegetation, destruction of the habitats of rare and endangered species due to explosives, and the declining health of people, particularly women and children, living in the mining areas.  For instance at Obulapuram in Anantapur district, where a cluster of iron ore mines are situated, the Pollution Control Board found that the total suspended particulate matter (TSPM) is around 420 micro grams per metre cube which is dangerously closes to the “red” level of 500. The APPCB Kurnool Regional Officer, Mr Krishna Murthy, said: “This is a wake up call. Limestone mines supplying raw material to cement companies and dolomite mines for the steel plants in Kurnool and Kadapa are not of much concern. The major problem is only with the iron ore mining.”  Scientists say the impact of mining is not limited to the particular area and it disturbs the ecosystem within a radius of several kilometres around the actual mining site. “Movement of heavy trucks for transporting the ore increase dust emissions and workers living in the area add to the disturbances. Due to fragmentation of the area the biodiversity is largely under threat. Animals need continuity of vegetation which is broken by the approach roads. Mining at one site disturbs the ecology in the radius of 50 kilometres as small particles are carried away by the wind,” said Osmania University Zoology professor Dr C. Srinivasulu. Experts say that most of the ground water is tapped to use for mining and for the workers and vehicles thus depleting the water levels. “The habitats of burrowing animals like monitor lizards and snakes are destroyed on a large scale. The entire terrain changes,” he added. The two government departments, mines and geology, along with the ministry of forest and environment, which grant mining permissions have failed to control the destruction of ecosystems. Other areas being ravaged by mining are Visakhapatnam, Parigi in Ranga Reddy, Khammam, Guntur and Prakasam districts. Sources say that the mandatory compensatory afforestation that has to be taken up by mining companies has turned into an eyewash exercise with no actual replacements being made for trees cut down. They say that while the state Environment Impact Assessment Authority gives environment clearance after a study, there is no proper follow up on the environment angle by mining, forest and pollution authorities. The additional principal chief conservator of forests, Mr S.B.L. Mishra, said that there was more land for mining outside the reserve forest area than within the notified forest area. “Mining is spread over 10,000 hectares in reserve forest areas of the state and this is mostly coal mining by Singareni collieries. The iron ore mining would be around 250 hectares. Limestone, granite, mica are the other major areas of mining,” said Mr Mishra.  Most mine owners ignore setting up ambient air quality monitoring stations and they seldom submit air quality levels to the pollution control board fearing violations of licence conditions.  Environmentalists point out that personnel working in the dusty areas are often not provided with protective respiratory devices. Workers are forced to consume contaminated water or live without proper water facilities as the ground water is often depleted due to the mining. Women and children suffer from serious health problems because of the polluted water and air like skin diseases, asthma, respiratory ailments, silicosis, cancer, reproductive health problems and other physical and mental disabilities. Malaria has increased in most mine areas due to stagnant mine pits.

(Source:http://www.deccanchronicle.com/hyderabad/boom-mining-digs-earth%E2%80%99s-grave-317)

Meeting on townships for Jharia fire victims

Dhanbad, April 21, 2010: The town planning committee of Jharia Rehabilitation Development Authority (JRDA) — the agency in charge of rehabilitation of non-BCCL families residing in fire-affected Jharia — will hold a crucial meeting tomorrow. The meeting, to be conducted under the leadership of deputy development commissioner Ajit Kumar — also the chairman of the tender committee — will delve into various issues, including land acquisition, provision of water and power connection and other facilities like hospital and high schools in the proposed townships where the families will be relocated. A total of four satellite townships of 600 acres each and having about 12,500 quarters each are to be developed for rehabilitation of more than 50,000 non-BCCL families. Two townships are to come up in Baliapur block while one each will be developed in Baghmara and Topchanchi block. This apart, a small township for 3,000-4,000 families will come up in Chanch Victoria area under the Nirsa Block. Notably, JRDA has already submitted a proposal for acquisition of more than 1,100 acres. Superintending engineer of JRDA Narendra Kumar said each township would be equipped with a 50-60 bed hospital and a high school. There will also be other facilities like banks, post offices, markets and playgrounds. Regarding Baliapur, Kumar said a proposal for acquisition of around 300 acres in Dokra, Nichitpur and Nipania mauza have been sent to the land acquisition department. The process for identifying more land is on.

(Source:http://telegraphindia.com/1100422/jsp/jharkhand/story_12366824.jsp)

Boom in mining digs up Earth’s grave

Hyderabad, April 21, 2010: The boom in the mining sector is having a devastating effect on the ecology and environment of the state particularly in Rayalaseema and the tribal areas. The AP Pollution Control Board’s recent analysis has found that pollutant levels in the air are increasing at an alarming rate in the mining areas.  Apart from this, the key issues that worry environmental scientists are water pollution in and around mining areas, massive loss of vegetation, destruction of the habitats of rare and endangered species due to explosives, and the declining health of people, particularly women and children, living in the mining areas.  For instance at Obulapuram in Anantapur district, where a cluster of iron ore mines are situated, the Pollution Control Board found that the total suspended particulate matter (TSPM) is around 420 micro grams per metre cube which is dangerously closes to the “red” level of 500. The APPCB Kurnool Regional Officer, Mr Krishna Murthy, said: “This is a wake up call. Limestone mines supplying raw material to cement companies and dolomite mines for the steel plants in Kurnool and Kadapa are not of much concern. The major problem is only with the iron ore mining.”  Scientists say the impact of mining is not limited to the particular area and it disturbs the ecosystem within a radius of several kilometres around the actual mining site. “Movement of heavy trucks for transporting the ore increase dust emissions and workers living in the area add to the disturbances. Due to fragmentation of the area the biodiversity is largely under threat. Animals need continuity of vegetation which is broken by the approach roads. Mining at one site disturbs the ecology in the radius of 50 kilometres as small particles are carried away by the wind,” said Osmania University Zoology professor Dr C. Srinivasulu. Experts say that most of the ground water is tapped to use for mining and for the workers and vehicles thus depleting the water levels. “The habitats of burrowing animals like monitor lizards and snakes are destroyed on a large scale. The entire terrain changes,” he added. The two government departments, mines and geology, along with the ministry of forest and environment, which grant mining permissions have failed to control the destruction of ecosystems. Other areas being ravaged by mining are Visakhapatnam, Parigi in Ranga Reddy, Khammam, Guntur and Prakasam districts. Sources say that the mandatory compensatory afforestation that has to be taken up by mining companies has turned into an eyewash exercise with no actual replacements being made for trees cut down. They say that while the state Environment Impact Assessment Authority gives environment clearance after a study, there is no proper follow up on the environment angle by mining, forest and pollution authorities. The additional principal chief conservator of forests, Mr S.B.L. Mishra, said that there was more land for mining outside the reserve forest area than within the notified forest area. “Mining is spread over 10,000 hectares in reserve forest areas of the state and this is mostly coal mining by Singareni collieries. The iron ore mining would be around 250 hectares. Limestone, granite, mica are the other major areas of mining,” said Mr Mishra.  Most mine owners ignore setting up ambient air quality monitoring stations and they seldom submit air quality levels to the pollution control board fearing violations of licence conditions.  Environmentalists point out that personnel working in the dusty areas are often not provided with protective respiratory devices.  Workers are forced to consume contaminated water or live without proper water facilities as the ground water is often depleted due to the mining. Women and children suffer from serious health problems because of the polluted water and air like skin diseases, asthma, respiratory ailments, silicosis, cancer, reproductive health problems and other physical and mental disabilities. Malaria has increased in most mine areas due to stagnant mine pits.

(Source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/hyderabad/boom-mining-digs-earth%E2%80%99s-grave-317)

Stealing coal fetches Rs 400 a day

Asansol, April 21, 2010: Looting of coal has become such a lucrative proposition for villagers in the Durgapur-Asansol coal belt that many of them have stopped taking up jobs under schemes for the poor.  Pilfered coal fetches them almost four times the Rs 70 to Rs 100 they would have earned in a day under the national rural employment guarantee scheme.  Some villages here said they earned as much as Rs 400 a day from the illegally mined coal. Villagers dig wells or holes in the earth to reach layers of coal which has its buyers in many of the sponge iron factories, steel rolling mills and brick fields dotting the region. An Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL) official said: “According to our estimates, 5 to 6 per cent of the 300 lakh tonnes of coal mined annually is stolen.”  That amounts to 15 lakh tonnes a year. Dealers in smuggled coal pooh-poohed the ECL figure. One of them said around 60 lakh tonnes a year would be a decent estimate. The Telegraph has been carrying an expose on how daylight looting of coal from wagons and mines in the state has resulted in below-capacity generation by power plants and long and frequent power cuts. Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has blamed scarcity of coal for the state’s abysmal power situation. The Telegraph found out that this scarcity was largely because of the rampant looting of coal with active support from police.  The so-called coal scarcity has not only hit power generation but also many small and medium industries that depend on the legal route for their source of energy. A section of the Burdwan district administration said it was worried about the coal-theft business, thriving with support from some of its own. “The villagers prefer smuggling coal to working for schemes under the rural job guarantee scheme. We have gone door-to-door along with gram panchayat functionaries and urged villagers to come to work, but in vain,” said Jayanta Chatterjee, joint block development officer (BDO) of Salanpur in Asansol. In Salanpur, Chatterjee said, projects taken up under the job scheme last year had to be cancelled because of lack of labourers. “We had taken up three forestation projects, excavation of three new ponds and construction of three village roads. But as we did not get enough labourers, we could only dig one pond and build one road. The rest of the schemes were cancelled. Of the 14,000 job card holders in the block, only 2,800 turned up for work,” said Chatterjee. In neighbouring Jamuria, too, less than a fourth of the 14,000 job card holders turned up for work.“We pleaded with the villagers to work but none agreed. It will be difficult for us to carry out work under NREGA if the police don’t stop coal smuggling,” said Jamuria BDO Sandip Tudu. Raniganj BDO Subodh Ghosh echoed Tudu. The situation changes during monsoon, when the coal pits are flooded. “Then villagers armed with job cards queue up at the panchayat offices for work,” said Shyamal Majumdar, the Congress deputy chief of the Salanpur panchayat samiti. Majumdar said the scene was no different in nearby Barabani, Kulti and Andal blocks. Across the region, villag- ers armed with shovels and buckets crawl into pits and lift coal, braving the possibility of cave-ins. “We are aware of the dangers but can’t ignore the money we get. The 100-day work scheme fetches us at most Rs 100 a day but digging coal for the mafia earns us about Rs 400 daily. Police don’t disturb us as our bosses pay them huge money,” said Iqbal Sheikh, 30, a “miner” at Barabani. Asim Bauri (name changed), who runs a depot of smuggled coal at Satgram in Jamuria, said: “I pay Rs 1 lakh a month to the police. At least 1,000 villagers work under me. They want money and I can afford to pay them better than the government. It is an open secret here. Over 60 lakh tonnes of coal are illegally mined here every year,” he said.  Burdwan police chief R. Rajsekharan denied allegations that the police accept money from coal smugglers. “We try to prevent illegal mining. However, we have to respond to other crimes as well. There is also a shortage of policemen and it is not possible for us to maintain vigil on illegal mining round the clock,” he said.

(Source:http://telegraphindia.com/1100422/jsp/bengal/story_12367576.jsp)

HC directs state to stop illegal mining

Chandigarh, April 21, 2010: Acting on a petition against Moga Deputy Commissioner and other respondents “to stop illegal mining of sand in Indergarh village and surrounding areas”, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed to state of Punjab to ensure “no illegal mining of any kind is carried out in the area concerned”. The Bench of Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Jasbir Singh added: In case any sort of mining is going on, that should be stopped forthwith. If the department of drainage finds that the banks of the drain need repair, the same may be repaired before the ensuing rainy season”. The Bench also fixed August 11 as the next date of hearing on the petition filed through counsel KS Sandhu. In the petition, Moga resident Virsa Singh had also sought directions to the respondents “to ensure proper maintenance and repair of Kishanpura drain passing through Indergarh village and surrounding areas near the banks of Kishanpura drain.

(Source:http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100422/punjab.htm#18)

SC to get report on OMC mines today

Bellary, April 21, 2010: The Survey of India team led by Maj Gen Ashok Kumar Peda, which is surveying mines area of Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) owned by Tourism minister G Janardhan Reddy, will submit its report to the Supreme Court on April 22. The hearing of cases against OMC in the apex court is to come up on April 23. The team is conducting the survey on the orders of the Supreme Court which is hearing petitions claiming border encroachment and illegal mining activity by OMC. The SoI team had earlier submitted to the court a report of its survey OMC mines carried out in March 2010. It has now returned to the district to complete its survey. Another five teams comprising experts from Geological Survey of India and the Indian Bureau of Mines are continuing the survey in Sandur, Hospet and Kudligi taluks of the district. The teams are surveying other mining companies of the district.

(Source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/65164/sc-get-report-omc-mines.html)

Orissa panel to report on mining leases

Bhubaneswar, April 21, 2010: The Orissa government has constituted a five-member committee under the chairmanship of B Patnaik, director (mines), to prepare a report on the leasing of mines in the state. The report will be submitted to the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) appointed by the Supreme Court. The state steel & mines minister, Raghunath Mohanty, on Tuesday said the committee is going to submit its report by May 18. Meanwhile, the ministry of railways has accepted the procedure laid down for loading of minerals from its sidings and booking rakes for transportation. With this, the indents for loading of minerals in railway rakes will be accepted by the railways only if the forwarding notes are duly validated by the authorised officer of the state mines department. On one forwarding note, indent for one rake will be accepted. On allotment of rake against duly validated indents, loading of minerals will be allowed if the consignor submits requisite transit permit (TP) issued by the authorised officer of the state mines department. Minerals for one rake should be sourced from the same mining circle.

(Source:http://www.financialexpress.com/news/orissa-panel-to-report-on-mining-leases/608952/)

Chhattisgarh UMPP bids may run into environment ministry hurdles

New Delhi, April 21, 2010: Bidders for the ultra mega power project at Chhattisgarh, that are set to put in their pre-qualification bids by May 3, could be in for a major jolt as coal blocks linked to the 4000 mw project is unlikely to get the nod from the environment ministry. In a clear case of where one arm of the government works at cross purposes against the other, the power ministry has called for bids even as the environment and coal ministries have jointly declared the Hasdeo Arand coal belt region as a “no go” area for mining. The environment ministry, which has been carrying out special audits on the encroachments and violations in the forest areas, has come down heavily over some ambitious mining projects like that of the Vedanta group in Orissa and also rejected a highway project in Madhya Pradesh that transgresses through Pench Tiger reserve. The ministry has carried out a joint exercise with the coal ministry studying nine major coal mining areas and has concluded that almost 35% of the area under study (primarily in central and eastern India) is not viable for mining activities. The decision of the environment ministry is likely to raise a crucial question over the fate of this proposed UMPP. For one, coal, the fuel for the power plant will now have to be carted from some other mine which would impact the costing and power tariffs. Also, bidders for this proposed power project may not be so keen on investing unless there is clarity on the fuel linkage. Power companies, like NTPC, Jindal Power, L&T, Sterlite, were keen on taking part in the Chhattisgarh power project that would involve an investment of almost Rs 20,000 crore. “The environment ministry has studied the nine major coal belts in India. And we have divided the areas into three broad categories. The first being those which do not pose serious environmental risks, the second being a “no-go” but which would allow remedial measures like compensation foresting and the third category identifies areas that are completely no-go,” environment minister Jairam Ramesh told ET. “The Hasdeo area is one such no-go area where no mining activities will be allowed,” he said. The matter and decision was flagged by the environment ministry to the power ministry and a joint meeting was taken by officials of the prime ministers office (PMO) and representatives of coal, environment and power ministry in January, a copy of the agenda note that ET has in possession shows. Apart from the umpp, the decision will immediately impact about 30 mining licence given to steel, power and cement companies such as Prakash Industries, Hindustan Zinc, Ultratech and Chhattisgarh Captive Coal Mining. The captive blocks in this field have been allocated between 2003 and 2007 and substantive work on some of the blocks has already been done. Officials in coal ministry, who wished not to be identified, said that any new policy would also have to look at country’s needs of pushing up GDP growth that would mean that energy production will have to be enhanced rapidly. Speaking to ET, Coal India chairman Partha S Bhattacharyya expressed concern that new policy will seriously impact its operations. “The country needs a more integrated approach towards environment and forest clearance,” he said.

(Source:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/energy/power/Chhattisgarh-UMPP-bids-may-run-into-environment-ministry-hurdles/articleshow/5842202.cms)

Need to import 82 MT coal in fiscal: CoalMin

New Delhi, April 21, 2010: Anxious to bridge the ever-widening gap between the rising demand for coal and its inadequate supply, the Coal Ministry today said the country would have to import 82 million tones coal to fire its blast furnaces and power turbines in 2010-11. In its quest for streamlining growth in the sector, the ministry has also pledged to expedite the setting up of the proposed Coal Regulator by seeking the approval of the union cabinet soon. Pointing out that the total demand for coking and non-coking coal in 2010-11 has been estimated to be around 653.71 million tones, Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal told The Indian Express that coal imports was imperative to ensure raw material security. “After a recent review meeting on the sector, we saw that the total coal demand was around 654 million tones. We found that production from all the sources including our behemoth Coal India Limited would be around 572.37 million tones, thereby leaving a gap of nearly 82 MT this fiscal. So imports will have to happen,” Jaiswal argued.  In the course of the meeting, the ministry inferred that the demand for coking coal from the steel sector would be around 50.51 MT in this fiscal, while non-coking coal demand would be around 603.20 MT mainly from the thermal power, cement and captive power plants. Against this CIL’s production is expected to be about 460.50 MT while Singareni Collieries Company Limited’s output would be about 46 MT besides other sources thereby taking the total production to around 572.37 MT. “In the 11th Plan period we have asked CIL to implement 134 new projects at an estimated cost of Rs 35,772.63 crore to produce an estimated 367.86 MT of coal from them,” Jaiswal said. Of these 134 projects, work is expected to shortly begin on 67 projects with an annual production capacity of 157.42 MT. Promising to expedite setting up of a regulator for the coal sector, the minister said dry details have been worked out and a cabinet note has been circulated to the concerned ministries for their comments. “We intend to take it to the union cabinet soon for its approval,” he said.

(Source:http://www.indianexpress.com/news/need-to-import-82-mt-coal-in-fiscal-coalmin/608967/0)

Rally against bauxite mines

Visakhapatnam, April 21, 2010: Half-clad tribals carrying bows, arrows and axes took out a rally in the city demanding the scrapping of the proposed mining of bauxite in the Agency here on Tuesday. The rally was led by the CPI state secretary, Mr K. Narayana.  Prior to the rally, Mr Narayana garlanded the statue of Alluri Seetharama Raju at Seethammadhara and paid tributes to the leader. The rally took off from the administrative building of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) and ended at Jagadamba junction. Addressing a public meeting held there later, Mr Narayana lambasted the Congress government for proposing mining bauxite in the Agency to facilitate alumina industry to be developed by multinational companies. Tribals had been eking out a living on forest produce and their rights over forest lands were won after prolonged struggles. He said that if mining was allowed, water resources and forest area would be polluted and this had been confirmed by scientists and experts. Government has been claiming that mining would help improve the lot of tribals. 'If government is serious about improving the condition of tribals, let it build schools, hospitals and lay roads to interior places," Mr Narayana said. The CPI district secretary, Mr J.V. Satyanarayana Murthy, said that the Congress was adopting double standards on the issue. While the AICC general secretary, Mr Rahul Gandhi, had been opposing mining in Orissa, his followers were advocating mining in the state, he said.

(Source:http://www.deccanchronicle.com/visakhapatnam/rally-against-bauxite-mines-959)

Panel formed to verify legality of mines

Bhubaneswar, April 21, 2010: The State Government has constituted a high-level committee to verify legality of various mines to prevent illegal mining in the State following the direction of the central empowered committee (CEC) of the Supreme Court. The committee has been directed to submit its report on legality of mining leases (ML) and renewal of mining leases (RML) by May 10, Minister for Steel and Mines Raghunath Mohanty has said, adding that the report will be submitted to CEC on ‘mining irregularities’. It has been asked to verify all granted MLs/RMLs cases by the field officers and compile a status report. Stating that the panel will examine various aspects of MLs/RMLs, the Minister said it is also empowered to recommend action in case of violation of norms. Mohanty said that the committee while monitoring verification of records will specifically ensure whether the ‘well settled principles of law’ have been adhered to while granting ML/RML. In case of any violation, the mining operation will be suspended and showcause notice issued to the lease-holders. The panel headed by the Director of Mines comprises conservator of forest, senior scientist from the Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB), mining engineer and joint director of mines from the directorate of mines. The joint director of mines is the member convenor. A formal notification in this regard was issued by the Steel and Mines Department. Of the 600 mine leases given so far in the State, operation in more than 160 mines had been suspended after the multi-crore mining scam came to the fore last year. The committee would look into forest clearance, pollution clearance and other legal bindings for operation of mines. Some mines were found to be operating in reserve forest areas even without obtaining the required forest clearance. Some other mines running for the past several decades were also found not taking adequate pollution control norms for upkeep operation. Claiming the State Government had already taken several measures to stop mineral smuggling, the Minister said that special power has been given to the police in mineralrich Keonjhar, Sundargarh and Mayurbhanj districts to take action against the mining irregularities.

(Source:http://expressbuzz.com/states/orissa/panel-formed-to-verify-legality-of-mines/167007.html)

Orissa forms panel to verify mining records

Bhubaneswar, April 21, 2010: The Orissa government has now constituted a five-member committee to verify the records of all the mines in the state. The move comes after Supreme Court’s Central Empowered Committee, which is probing into allegations of forest law violations in several mines of Keonjhar and Sundargarh district in the multi-crore mining scam, had early this month asked the state government to submit its report on legality of mine leases and renewal of mining leases by May 10. Of about 600 mine leases given out so far in the state, operations in more than 160 mines was suspended after allegations of a multi-crore mining scam came to the fore last year. A formal notification in this regard has been issued by the steel and mines department. The committee, headed by the Director of Mines, would examine different aspects of mine leases and renewal of mining leases. It would comprise senior officials from the departments of forest, revenue, home, mines and a senior scientist from the pollution control board. Recently, the Orissa government empowered the police of three mineral-rich Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Sundargarh to check illegal mining. Earlier, only senior officials of the mining department were authorised under the law to detect, seize and confiscate minerals.

(Source:http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Orissa-forms-panel-to-verify-mining-records/608950)

Ministry eases green norms for coal mine expansion

Mumbai April 20, 2010: Coal mine developers may be exempted from public hearings for obtaining clearance for expansion. There is good news for coal mine developers who want to go in for expansion. The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), in its new notification, said the developers that had already bagged environment clearance for their existing projects might be exempted from the stipulated public hearings for obtaining clearances for their expansion projects, provided they met certain criteria specified by the ministry. This is going to benefit state-run Coal India and its subsidiaries as well as private mining companies. The ministry, in its notification which has been uploaded on its website, says the developers that have bagged green clearance for their existing coal mining projects under the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification of 2006 would be eligible for this exemption. However, the projects cleared under the 1994 version of the EIA notification would have to conduct fresh public hearings for each of their expansion projects. The EIA notification, 2006, was amended on December 1, 2009. According to this amendment, coal mining projects with lease area of more than 150 hectares have been put into category ‘A’ and those between five hectares and 150 hectares are category ‘B’ projects requiring clearance from MoEF and the State level Environmental Impact Assessment Authority, respectively.  An expansion project, which has obtained prior environment clearance under the EIA notification of 2006 at least once and has undergone public hearing at least once, would be exempted from public hearing. Exemption may be given once in five years for an expansion project. Further, an expansion project, with prior environment clearance and having conducted at least one public hearing, can be considered for exempting from holding public hearings if there is no additional lease/project area, manpower, equipment, road transportation, rehabilitation and resettlement involved with the expansion project. Exemption from holding public hearing would also be considered if there is no additional requirement of water or the additional requirement is met by recycling or rainwater harvesting and the levels of environmental quality parameters are within the prescribed limit. “This is a major relief for Coal India and private coal mining companies. Coal India, in particular, has been consistently arguing its case for expediting environment and forest clearances. Coal India had petitioned that average pendency at state level for Stage-I clearance is more than four years and that for Stage-II clearance is more than 2.5 years. Similarly, average pendency at the level of MoEF for Stage-I clearance is more than one year and that for Stage-II clearance is about 2.5 years,” industry sources told Business Standard. About 62,000 hectares are likely to be acquired by Coal India for projects under implementation and also for those identified during the Eleventh Five-Year Plan (2007-12). During the first two years of the 11th plan, 3,293 hectares have been acquired. During the Plan period, 134 new projects have been identified with a capacity of 367.86 million tonnes. These projects are expected to contribute about 102.45 million tonnes during 2011-12, the terminal year of Plan.

(Source:http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/ministry-eases-green-norms-for-coal-mine-expansion/392463/)

Move on for uranium mining: PM

New Delhi, April 19, 2010: Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has said both the Centre and the State governments are trying their best to go ahead with the uranium mining in Meghalaya for the purpose of meeting the country's energy need. The Prime Minister was talking to The Shillong Times on board the Air India One flight to New Delhi after completing his tour of US and Brazil on Saturday. "We are trying our best," was his cryptic reply to a question of this accompanying correspondent during the informal chat in the flight. By all other indications, the Centre is also going ahead with the proposed uranium mining in West Khasi Hills district. Earlier, Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Prithviraj Chavan had said the Uranium Corporation of India Ltd (UCIL) had proposed new uranium mines and processing plants one each in Meghalaya and Andhra Pradesh. "It (UCIL) proposed to set up new mines and processing plants at Lambapur-Peddagattu in Nalgonda district of Andhra Pradesh and at Kylleng Pyndengsohiong Mawthabah in West Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya," he had said. The Centre is determined for nuclear power capacity addition target for the XIth Plan at 3160 MW. Most of the nuclear power plants would be completed in the remaining two years of the plan period even as there is widespread opposition from environmentalists and local activists against uranium mining mainly on health grounds. Only last week, the Union Cabinet gave its approval for transfer of 22 roads and approved six new roads at a whopping cost of about Rs 7000 crore some of which will help uranium mining in Meghalaya. Planning Commission had also recommended inclusion of four State roads of about 325 km length and advancement of Nongstoin-Tura Road from Phase 'B' to Phase 'A' of SARDP-NE to facilitate mining of uranium in the state. The Prime Minister was returning after his two-nation tour of the US and Brazil during which he attended the Nuclear Security Summit and IBSA and BRIC meets, besides holding talks with President Barack Obama and other world leaders. With ash cloud from Iceland's erupting volcano creating havoc for flights in northern Europe, Dr Singh's special aircraft took a detour on way back from Brasilia and had a stopover in Johannesburg in South Africa, instead of Frankfurt.

(Source:http://www.theshillongtimes.com/shillong.html)

Project Khanija' launched

Hyderabad, April 19, 2010: The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, on Sunday launched a project for online receipt and processing of mining concession application system in the State. Andhra Pradesh is the first State to launch the online process in accordance with the National Mineral Policy 2008. ‘Project Khanija' will be implemented on a pilot basis in Kadapa district which is rich in barytes. The online system will mitigate the problems of applicants, entrepreneurs, Departments concerned and also the Government in processing and disposing applications in a pre-fixed timeframe. It will also enable speedy disposal and grant of leases in the State, the Minister for Mines, Mr Balineni Srinivasa Reddy, said. The Centre will soon replicate the online system launched in Andhra Pradesh, he added. “Introduction of Information Technology through integration of MIS and GIS has revolutionised access to both geographical and textural data,” he said.

(Source:http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/04/19/stories/2010041951711500.htm)

Miners could soon apply online for licence

New Delhi, April 19, 2010: Prospective miners would soon be able to apply online for mining rights and track status of various leases and other relevant information, as the Centre is in the process of implementing a system of providing information on minerals and mines among others online. “India will soon join the league of a handful of developed nations, like Australia and Canada, having mining tenement systems, to offer online information to prospective investors and miners for mineral concessions, besides curbing illegal trade,” a senior mines ministry official said. “We are in the process of implementing the system. We have already launched pilot projects in the iron-ore rich Bellary region of Karnataka and those of Chhattisgarh, and are going to currently replicate it in five states,” the official informed.

(Source:http://epaper.timesofindia.com/)

Karnataka firm denied mining lease

New Delhi, April 17, 2010: The environment ministry has cancelled the mining lease of a Karnataka-based company, Janthakal Enterprises, nearly four years after it sought the ministry’s permission to mine iron and manganese ore in Chitradurga district in the state. Interestingly, the ministry, despite having all the incriminating documents for more than a year, waited till this week to cancel the lease in its present form In December 2006, in the UPA I regime, Janthakal Enterprises approached the ministry for permission to mine in Hirekandavad and Tanigehalli villages in Holalkere taluka in Chitradurga. The lease area of the mine was 80.94 hectare, which was entirely forest land. The proposed production capacity for iron and manganese was 6 lakhs tonnes per annum and 10,000 TPA respectively. An expert group in the ministry considered the proposal in 2007 and asked the company to submits its environment impact assessment (EIA) report to the state pollution control board and hold public hearings. The final EIA report with comments from the public hearing would have to be submitted to the central ministry for the final approval. Accordingly a public hearing was held in January 2008 and the report was submitted in March 2008. But things became murky when a forgery case related to forestry by the firm was brought to the ministry’s notice in the same month. It was found that the company produced forged letters (dated August 27, 2007 and February 14, 2008) which claimed to grant them permission to lift the old waste dump from the Janthakal Mine. The forest conservation division examined the case and the letter was found to be fake. The ministry subsequently wrote to the secretary (forest), Karnataka, to take immediate criminal action against the mine owner and others involved. The lokayukta, Karnataka, also heard the matter separately. It asked the Karnataka principal chief conservator of forests if the letters are genuine. The ministry clarified that it was a fake as no such communications had been addressed to Janthakal Enterprises. In October, 2008, the ministry sought clarifications from the company on the status of forest clearance and clarification on issues raised during public hearings. But company didn’t respond, compelling the government to revoke the license.

(Source:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/indl-goods-/-svs/metals--mining/Karnataka-firm-denied-mining-lease/articleshow/5823724.cms)

Govt says no to mining after detecting forgery by firm

New Delhi, April 16, 2010: Government has denied permission to a firm to conduct mining operations in Karnataka after it found the agency produced forged documents to get the clearance.Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) refused to give go ahead to Janthakal Enterprises which had sought permission to carry out mining operations for iron and manganese ore in Hirekandavad and Tanigehalli villages under Holalkere Taluka in Chitradurga district in Karnataka, according to a statement from the ministry.The lease was sought in 2006 for a patch of 80.94 hectare which was coming under forest area. An Expert Appraisal Committee considered the proposal in April 2007 and prescribed the terms and reference for undertaking the environmental impact assessment.It advised the proponent to submit the EIA report to the State Pollution Control Board for conducting the public hearing. A public hearing was held in January 2008 and the report was submitted in March 2008, the statement said.However, a case of forgery was brought to the notice of the Ministry in March 2008 pertaining to clarifications sought on some forestry aspects, it said.The project proponent had produced letters which claimed to grant them permission to lift the old waste dump from the Janthakal Mine.The ministry examined it and found that the letter was fake. The ministry asked the Secretary (Forest) Karnataka to take immediate criminal action against the Mine owner and others involved in the case, according to the statement.The MoEF had sought certain other clarifications from the project proponent but no further information was received.“In view of all the above circumstances, the Ministry of Environment and Forests is left with no choice but to reject the clearance sought in the present form,” it said.

(Source:http://beta.thehindu.com/news/states/article399071.ece#)

MoEF cancels mining lease in Karnataka

New Delhi, April 16, 2010: The MoEF has issued a clarification stating that JE had sought permission in 2006 for carrying out mining operations for iron and manganese ore in Karnataka

Ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) refused to grant permission to Janthakal Enterprises (JE) after it found that the groups had produced forged documents to obtain clearance for a mining lease. The MoEF has issued a clarification stating that JE had sought permission in 2006 for carrying out mining operations for iron and manganese ore in Hirekan- davad and Tanigehalli villages in Chitradurga district in Karnataka. Since they required 80.94 hectare plot of forest land, an environmental expert appraisal committee was set up to study its environmental impact. As per procedure, the environmental expert committee advised the company to submit its Environmental Impact Assessment report to the state pollution control board. This is mandatory procedure and is followed by a public hearing before the actual land transfer can take place. The public hear- ing was held in January 2008 and the report was submitted in March 2008. But MoEF points out that a case of forgery was brought to the notice of the MoEF in March 2008 pertaining to some clarifications regard- ing details on the forestry aspects. The JE had produced letters which claimed to grant them permission to lift the old waste dump from the Janthakal Mine. When the ministry examined these letters, they found they were fake. The ministry then asked the secretary (Forest) Karnataka to take immediate criminal action against the mine owner and others involved in the case. Meanwhile, Lokayukt of Karnataka also began public hearings in this matter and thereafter addressed communications to the PCCF, Karnataka asking if the letters mentioned above had indeed been issued by the MoEF.

(Source:http://epaper.asianage.com/ASIAN/AAGE/2010/04/17/ArticleHtmls/17_04_2010_004_006.shtml?Mode=1)

Bacteria can cut heat at mines

Warangal, April 15, 2010: Kakatiya University’s department of microbiology is eying an ambitious The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI) funded project, which if sanctioned, would help in reduction of temperature near coal mining areas by cultivation of select bacteria species in artificial ponds, while dispensing with the need go for afforestation activities. According to Dr M.A. Singara Charya, head, department of microbiology, KU, who is spearheading the project, said that during coal excavation process a lot of heat is generated. “Compared to other areas, in all coal belt areas, temperature exceeds by up to 3-4 degree centigrade as carbon dioxide generated during mining leads to rise in temperature,” he explained. As fertile topsoil cover also gets disturbed in coal belt areas, Mr Charya said that afforestation programmes would not give the required result. Mr Charya, who is expecting TERI’s final nod to the project (costing about Rs 40 lakh) by next month, said that growing tree cover for absorbing excess carbon is a lengthy process. “Whereas some select bacterial species of Phytoplankton and Cyanobacteria, which have a few days of lifespan, can be cultivated in artificial ponds near mining areas. These bacterial species that grow too fast are equally good at absorbing carbon from atmosphere,” he said, adding that this method could also be used in and around other heat generating industrial areas like thermal power plants, etc.

(Source:http://www.deccanchronicle.com/anantapur/%E2%80%98bacteria-can-cut-heat-mines%E2%80%99-221)

State makes a move to develop mining area

Bhubaneswar, April 15, 2010: In its bid to plough back revenue generated from mining into development activities in the region, the State Government has created a Special Development Fund mobilising 5 per cent royalty collected from the major minerals. The Government has pooled Rs 100 cr for the financial year 2010-11 as corpus which will go towards development activities in the mining areas.  Principal Secretary, Steel and Mines Department, Ashok Dalwai, on Wednesday said a committee has been formed to work on programmes and schemes that will chalk out activities to ameliorate negative impact of mining in these areas.  Currently, the 5 per cent levy on profit of mine owners towards community development has been challenged in court prompting the Government to show the way by contributing from its own revenue towards the development of mining areas.  Dalwai told a gathering of geo-scientists that the Government is working on a delivery mechanism for the special fund which, he said, would be different from the existing ones under which the district administration is entrusted with the work. He was speaking at a workshop organised by the Society of Geo-Scientists and Allied Technologists (SGAT).  The illegality in mining can be checked by Government and people coming together, Dalwai observed.  The State Government, he said, has mooted joint mineral management on the lines of the much-lauded joint forest management to protect the mineral wealth with people’s participation. Since the local community enjoys no stake now, it has become a party to the current system which is why the Government wants to incentivise their role. Meanwhile, for ushering in reforms in the mining sector, which has been under the shadow of a massive scam, the Government has asked a World Bank team to conduct a diagnostic study in the State to form the base for reforms.  As many as 30 countries, concerned over illegal mining, are now in discussion with the World Bank on Extractive Industries Transparency Issues (EIPI), India being one. Orissa, on its part, made the move and suggested the study.  Dalwai said a Bank team will carry out the assessment for four months and by year-end, the study, which will look at legal, procedural, structural and organisational frameworks, will be ready.

(Source:http://expressbuzz.com/states/orissa/state-makes-a-move-to-develop-mining-area/165456.html)

Orissa ore ban, high prices put Jharkhand DRI units in the dock

Jamshedpur, April 15, 2010: Orissa’s crackdown on illegal iron ore mining since December 2009 has pushed most sponge iron (DRI) plants in Jharkhand into dire straits.  “There’s hardly any iron ore coming from Orissa now; we are buying whatever we are getting; in most cases it is the inferior grades as also iron ore fines,” said a medium-scale sponge iron manufacturer here, badly hit by the shortage. Following administrative action by the Orissa government at the railway sidings of iron-ore rich Keonjhar district, arrival of iron ore and other minerals into Jharkhand through railway rakes have stopped completely. “It is only coming by road and that too of sub-standard quality,” claimed another sponge iron producer. Again, the recent arrest of some transporters has further affected movement of iron ore even by road. The difficulty with most small sponge iron producers in Jharkhand is that they need to buy their basic inputs, both iron ore and coal, at an “affordable price” in order to stay in competition with every other player selling sponge iron to induction furnace owners and others. Most sponge iron (DRI) producers in Jharkhand dependant on iron ore from Orissa said supplies from Orissa had helped keep iron ore prices at an “affordable level”. Thus, even though there happens to be a couple of mining companies in Jharkhand who also supply iron ore to interested parties within the state, most small and medium-scale DRI manufacturers in Jharkhand stay away from them as their economics does not work well with the prices such suppliers have been found to be quoting. “A truck-load (from Orissa) of medium quality iron ore, which a couple of months ago was costing around Rs 5,000, was today available somewhere between Rs 7,000 and Rs 7,500,” said Kohinoor Steel’s Avinash Dugar. Kohinoor Steel’s 400-tonne per day (tpd) sponge iron plant here, when running at full capacity, requires 600 tonne of iron ore daily. Owing to the severe shortage of supply of iron ore as also the abnormally high price at which it was being available today, most sponge iron units still operational in Jharkhand have been forced to bring down their plant output to around 40%-50% of their rated capacity. Said Siddhi Vinayak Metcom (SVM) managing director Guddu Singh, “The situation is pretty tough and grim. We are banking on old stocks as also using fines which generally get accumulated at the stockyards during rains." SVM which has two units of 100 tpd each at Chowka, 35 km from here, is currently producing only around 60-70 tpd of sponge iron per day. “A couple of months ago we used to buy the low grades of iron ore at Rs 1,500-1,600 a tonne, which today is available at almost double that (price), and even at that price there is no availability,” added Singh. Again, though Orissa has called a meeting of mine owners, state government officials and others involved in mining operations in the state in the next couple of days, knowledgeable sponge iron producers here say that the outcome, even if positive for the mine owners, would not soften iron ore prices in the near future, especially as monsoon was round the corner. “From mid-June we would have monsoons; the iron ore mines would be inundated which would make mining more difficult, which in turn would badly affect both output and prices; it will be monopoly again for the mine owners,” said the SVM managing director. Historically speaking, most sponge iron plants started coming up in Jharkhand from around 2004-05 when the then BJP-led Arjun Munda government went on a MoU-signing spree. Having signed an MoU with the Jharkhand government for setting up a sponge iron plant gave the owners confidence enough to go ahead and invest in the unit with the hope that they would one day be allotted an iron ore mine in the state. This has not yet happened yet, even while some sponge iron producers like Kohinoor Steel, Adhunik Alloys & Power Ltd, Ispat Industries Ltd, Monnet Ispat & Energy Ltd and Abhijeet Industries Ltd have already gone to court for allotment of an iron ore mine, alleging that the state government had gone back on its promises made in their MoUs.

(Source:http://www.financialexpress.com/news/orissa-ore-ban-high-prices-put-jharkhand-dri-units-in-the-dock/606437/0)

Opposition to uranium mining in national park

Guwahati, April 15, 2010:  A proposal for an exploratory drilling at a newly-surveyed uranium site inside the Balpakram National Park (BNP), in South Garo hills of Meghalaya, has raised the hackles of wildlife and conservation groups in the State.  The 400-sq km BNP is a known habitat for Asian elephant, tiger and other endangered animals such as, Hoolock Gibbon and Slow loris, apart from being home to rare and endemic plants. Last year, the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) had sought permission for an exploratory drilling in the ecologically fragile Rongcheng plateau of the Park for which the DAE has requested for de-notification of 8 sq km of forest under the national park. According to a recent survey, the Rongcheng Plateau is one of the “most potential” sites for “high grade, large tonnage uranium deposits”, which requires confirmation. The exploratory drilling is aimed at that. Citing India’s national resolve to generate at least 20,000MW of nuclear power by 2020, the DAE justified the need for “exploration efforts for economically feasible uranium deposits,” and sought clearance of the Ministry of Forest and Environment.  However, the proposal came to light following an RTI appeal by a local conservationist group in South Garo Hills, which got wind of the uranium find. What angered the local NGOs was the “clandestine manner” in which the exploratory drilling activities were proposed by the DAE. “We are not going to allow any mining activities inside the BNP,” said Ginseng Sangma of the Chitmang Hills Anti-Mining Forum, which filed the RTI petition about the proposed exploratory uranium mining activities. He said BNP was not only a biodiversity and ecological hotspot, “it’s a sacred place for us.” The Garos believe the spirit of their ancestors reside in the forest of Balpakram. Not only the indigenous Garos, the Hindus too believe that Balpakram was the mythological hillock from where Hanuman plucked the life-giving herbs, sanjeevani, for wounded Lakshman.  Meanwhile, on Monday the issue came up for discussion at the meeting of the standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL). The meeting, chaired by Union Minister of State for Forest and Environment Jairam Ramesh, decided to send ‘an inspection team’ to ascertain facts about the proposed drilling site.  Normally, any mining activity around a national park is rejected outright, but considering ‘uranium’ as a ‘critical mineral’, the ministry has to look at ‘larger national interest,’ an NBWL member told The Pioneer. Another uranium mining proposal in West Khasi hills of Meghalaya is lying pending since 1992, with several anti-nuke groups opposing the project citing radiation effect on human health and environmental degradation. The Uranium Corporation of India (UCIL) has proposed to set up a Rs 1,046 crore opencast uranium mining and processing unit in Domiasiat area, which has an estimated deposit of 9.22 million tones of uranium ore.

(Source:http://www.dailypioneer.com/249179/Opposition-to-uranium-mining-in-national-park.html)

GSPCB to check mining pollution at seven junctions

Panjim, April 14, 2010: The Goa State Pollution Control Board hopes to keep in check pollution caused by mining transportation at seven crucial junctions in the State, even as bitterly-complaining people from these places, appearing skeptical, expressed the measure would hardly help.  The seven locations – Curchorem Municipal area, Usgao-Pale junction, Codli Tisk, Honda junction, Bicholim town, Amona and Assonora junction – have been earmarked for setting up of ambient air quality check stations, besides the three existing ones in Panjim, Vasco city and Mormugao Harbour. GSPCB officials informed tenders have been invited for setting up the stations and the last date for receiving the sealed quotations for the same was April 22. We aim to start work on these from May 1 onwards, they stated.  They observed the air quality at these locations will be monitored for 24 hours twice a week. It will help us assert whether the particular location or area recorded dust pollution levels and control the same by applying laid down measures, they mentioned.  The officials said presently GSPCB checked for suspended particulate matter (SPM), respirable particulate matter (RPM), oxides of nitrogen and sulphur dioxide. But as per revised notification we will also check for PM 10 (particles with size 10 micron) and PM 2.5, they stated.  The decision to set up the seven ambient air quality stations was taken after the GSPCB received many complaints from people residing in these seven locations where uncontrolled mining traffic has become a bone of contention.  Environmentalists and people affected by mining dust expressed their apprehensiveness over the measure stating the Central environment ministry’s clearance to 100 more mining leases would only aggravate the problem further.

(Source:http://oheraldo.in/news/Local%20News/GSPCB-to-check-mining-pollution-at-seven-junctions/35839.html)

 Consider AG’s proposal for mining consent to Lafarge

New Delhi April 13, 2010: The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to consider the proposals submitted by the Attorney General (AG) G. E. Vahanvati for permitting mining operations by Lafarge mining co. in Meghalaya and take a final decision on revised environmental clearance in two weeks. As per the proposal, “the company will deposit Rs. 55 crore towards five times of the normal NPV [as recommended by the CEC] with 9 per cent interest A special purpose vehicle [SPV] will be set up in four weeks and the user agency will deposit with the SPV Rs. 90 per tonne of limestone mined from the date on which mining commenced.” The proposal also included certain other conditions to be complied with by the company for carrying out the mining operations. During the resumed hearing on Monday before a Bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Justice S.H. Kapadia and Justice Aftab Alam, the AG pleaded for lifting the stay on mining operations. Mr. Vahanvati said the matter involved sensitive political and diplomatic issues in view of the international agreements. He said, “it may hurt the relationship with our neighbour, Bangladesh, which is very friendly and co-operative. ”Justice Kapadia told the AG, “we only want compliance of law. Tell me whether without a proper Environment Impact Assessment, you could allow mining.” When Justice Aftab Alam wanted to know from the AG whether proper environmental clearance was obtained, the AG replied, “no.” Senior counsel U. U. Lalit, amicus curiae, in his response to the AG's proposals said no mining should be allowed without the company obtaining environment clearance.” Fali Nariman, senior counsel, appearing for the company referred to the report of the Task force set up by the MoEF which said, “mining is not having any discernible adverse effect on human health. Samples of water, ambient air quality and stack emissions from crushing units were examined while the mine was in operation and all the parameters were within the prescribed limits. The local population and institutions do not have any problem/grievances with LUMPL [Lafarge Umiam Mining Private Limited] and they want the mining to be allowed to take place and the government of India to give all clearance needed for the same.” He said the proposals should be accepted and mining be allowed. The Bench posted the matter for further hearing on April 26.

(Source:http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article395678.ece)

Lafarge Meghalaya mining gets SC relief

New Delhi April 13, 2010: A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court on Monday asked the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to consider giving conditional clearance to the French cement giant, Lafarge, to restart mining operations in Meghalaya so that it can resume supply of limestone to its cement plant in Bangladesh. While the court didn’t lift the stay on mining it seems likely that Lafarge will be able to resume mining by agreeing to pay around Rs 500 crore over the lifetime of the project to a special purpose vehicle (SPV) which will spend the money for the benefit of the local tribal communities, according to officials involved in the case. This consists of a one-time payment of Rs 65 crore and a royalty of Rs 90 per tonne of limestone mined. India’s attorney-general Goolam E Vahanvati has supported the idea of Lafarge getting environment and mining licenses by paying the SPV. The case, which has seen a high-profile collision between India’s environmental laws which discourages mining in forest areas and the need to maintain cordial relations with the Sheik Hasina-led government in Bangladesh, is being heard by the Supreme Court, which had stayed mining on February 5 because the company allegedly obtained forest clearance by misrepresenting facts. But Lafarge is being staunchly backed by the Indian government and by multilateral donors. Four such donors — the International Finance Corporation (the World Bank arm which lends to the private sector), the Asian Development Bank, the European Investment bank and Deutsche Investitions, a German Development Finance institution — have urged the Indian government to give the project its final forest clearance. These institutions, all of whom funded the project, say that the controversy over the project’s alleged location in the middle of a dense forest arose after it received all clearances. Their letter, dated 8 March, insists “all required authorisations (including those related to environmental matters) had been obtained prior to the construction of the project”, and that it was only in April, 2007 (subsequent to the start of its operations), that the mining area was “reclassified as ‘forest land’, requiring additional approval under the Forest Conservation Act.” On Monday, the SC bench sought the response of the MoEF to a report by an expert committee which had found that the company had complied with environmental norms. It posted the matter for further hearing on April 26. Mr Vahanvati on behalf of centre at the start of the proceedings sought permission of the court to vacate its stay on the mining operations by of French cement giant in Meghalaya saying it was essential to maintain cordial diplomatic relationship with Bangladesh. However, this was opposed by UU Lalit, the lawyer acting as amicus curae or friend of the court. The issue has to be resolved within the existing legal framework and diplomatic relationship cannot be cited as a ground to permit the company to start mining in an ecologically fragile area, said Mr Lalit. Mr Vahanvati said Lafarge would now deposit Rs 55 crore with interest at the rate of 9% per annum from April 1, 2007, within four weeks. The total amount, which would come to a little over Rs 65 crore would be utilised for afforestation in the state, espcially the mining affected area. Lafarge, which had been mining 2 million tonnes of limestone per year, would also pay Rs 90 per tonne mineral. This amount would go to a to-be-constituted SPV under the chairmanship of the Meghalaya chief secretary. However, while proposing a hike in the contribution from Lafarge towards afforestation and a SPV, Mr Vahanvati said the company should be able to get the environmental clearance in two weeks by following proper procedure. Lafarge has welcomed the SPV solution to the tangle it finds itself in.

(Source:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/indl-goods-/-svs/metals--mining/Lafarge-Meghalaya-mining-gets-SC-relief/articleshow/5790275.cms)

Forest officials to be on CIL board to clear mining proposals

New Delhi April 12, 2010: Steps are underway to nominate two senior forest officials from Environment Ministry on the board of Coal India Ltd (CIL) to facilitate coal mining proposals awaiting forest clearance. "We have recommended a panel of six IFS officials at the Joint Secretary level for the two posts with the Coal Ministry. Interviews have been conducted and names are being finalised," a senior environment official said today. The need to appoint senior forest officials with the CIL has been in line with Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh's suggestions that their induction would cut down clearance delay, which according to the Coal Ministry, was taking five to six years and hampered coal production targets. "The presence of the forest officers in CIL board would ensure better coordination between coal ministry, state governments and environment ministry, check coal block allocations in sensitive zones where, otherwise also, clearance would not come through. "This would ease forest clearance process as well as expedite implementation of projects," the official said. On its part, to prevent last minute delay, the environment ministry has already started classifying applications, seeking forestry clearances for coal mining as "go and no-go" based on their location. According to the classification, coal mines in degraded forests have been identified as a "go", meaning they will have to go through the discipline of procedure while those in medium and heavy density forests are in the "no-go" category -- to be rejected right away. As per an environment ministry assessment, 35 per cent of areas earmarked for coal mining in the country could be "no-go" areas. In the remaining 65 per cent, forestry clearance could be given subject to assessment on the ground. The ministry's findings are based on its study on the country's nine major coalfields. Ramesh has also asked the Planning Commission and the coal ministry to work out a new policy for allocating coal blocks that bars mining even in expl ored coal-bearing areas that is clearly marked as "no-go". According to the Coal Ministry at least 17 projects, which have about 101 million tons of coal reserves, cannot be explored due to delay in forest clearance.

(Source:http://www.zeenews.com/news618619.html)

Lafarge complying with norms

New Delhi, April 12, 2010:The high-powered team, headed by B N Jha, RCCP North Eastern Regional Office of Environment and Forest, that included several other senior officials, has confirmed that Lafarge has been following high standards of environmental compliance. Earlier, Shella Action Committee, a conglomerate of traditional village bodies, had charged French major of mining limestone in forest areas of Meghalaya and that an environmental clearance was obtained fraudulently. The ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) report documents the strong support of the local population of both the Shella and Nongtrai Dorbars for the project. "The impact of mining on Nongtrai and Shella was found very positive and beneficial to the residents due to huge amount of cash going to villages,” report said.

(Source:http://epaper.timesofindia.com)

Modi seeks PM’s help to get forest clearance for Margo-II coal block

New Delhi, April 12, 2010: The Manmohan Singh government appears to be in a bind over increasing electricity generation capacity and protecting the environment. The latest complainant is Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, who is seeking PM’s intervention to secure forest clearance for the Margo-II coal block in the Hasdeo coalfield of Chhattisgarh, setting the stage for yet another tussle between environmental concerns and economic development. The Margo-II coal block has been allocated to the Gujarat-government-owned Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC). It has been issued a prospecting licence by the Chhattisgarh government, subject to forest clearance by the environment ministry. The Hasdeo coalfield is among the nine that has been taken up by the environment ministry for identification of no-go and go areas for coal mining from the point of view of forest clearances. Indications are that a large part of this coalfield would fall in the no-go areas.  Environment minister Jairam Ramesh said 35% of the mines are in the no-go areas. Such mines are unlikely to get clearances. Mr Ramesh said if projects impact natural forest reserve then previously provided clearances would be withdrawn. He has given the results of the assessment to the PM; the Prime Minister’s Office will take a final decision. The clearance for Margo-II coal block is pending with Forest Advisory Committee. Inhis letter to the prime minister, Mr Modi has referred to the Centre’s committee which studied the possibility of mining in the Hasdeo Arnad coalfield in Chhattisgarh. Mr Modi said the Margo-II block would provide fuel for the 1,800 mw project of Wardha Power Company at Nariyara in the Bilaspur district. Mr Modi said the power project “has achieved all the critical milestones such as environmental clearances, financial closure, land acquisition and also received water allocation. The project has commenced construction and has invested sizeable amounts of money till date”. Without the coal block, the project would be stuck. “A delay in clearance will jeopardise the future of the power project being development by Wardha Power Company for the benefit of Gujarat.”

(Source:http://epaper.timesofindia.com/)

Congressmen to meet Sonia on bauxite mines

Visakhapatnam, April 11, 2010: Congress leaders of the Agency have decided to meet the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson and AICC president, Ms Sonia Gandhi, to ask her to prevail upon the state government to withdraw proposals to mine bauxite in the Agency.  Addressing a press conference in Araku Valley on Sunday, tribal leader and the president of the Araku Valley Congress Assembly segment leader, Mr Setti Gangadhara Swamy, said that Ms Sonia Gandhi would be told about the harm bauxite mining would cause to people environmentally and how it would displace families who have been eking out a living in the forests. He said that he would be going to New Delhi on April 14 to seek an appointment with the UPA chairperson. About 50 leaders, party workers and villagers would visit New Delhi after this and call on Ms Gandhi. Mr Gangadhar said that leaders and workers, irrespective of political affiliation should unite and fight against the project in the interests of tribals. “If Anrak and Jindal make efforts to subvert law to begin mining in the Agency, leaders and party workers would oppose the move and stall the proceedings. Private agencies were trying to establish projects without seeking public opinion and without approval of grama sabha and local panchayats. There was no truth in the statement of the managing director of Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC), Mr Praveen Prakash, that bauxite mining would improve the lot of tribals,” said Mr Swamy. Mandal-level Congress leaders were also present in the press conference.

(Source:http://www.deccanchronicle.com/visakhapatnam/congressmen-meet-sonia-bauxite-mines-389)

Bauxite mining will ruin tribal life: Cess

Hyderabad, April 11, 2010:: Even as the state government is going ahead full steam with its plan to begin mining the huge bauxite reserves in the Agency areas of Visakhapatnam district, a recent study by the Centre for Economics and Social Sciences (Cess) has become the latest to warn that such a move would be a human as well as environmental disaster. The Cess study, which was completed about 10 days ago, held that majority of the tribal people affected by the mining will lose their livelihood and that despite promises by the state government, the illiterate tribals are unlikely to get jobs in the highly mechanised bauxite mining units. In all, 270 villages comprising tribal populations belonging to the Bhagata, Khond, Konda Reddi, Samantha and other communities will be displaced, it said. The state government recently signed two Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with Jindal Southwest Holdings Limited and Ras Al Khaima (from UAE) respectively to carry out bauxite mining in the Agency area and the issue had rocked the state assembly for two consecutive days during the budget session. The study titled "Bauxite Mining in Eastern Ghats: Mapping of Livelihoods of Affected Communities" conducted by Cess in collaboration with Samata, a tribal organisation, brought into focus several investigations into the controversial mining activities in the region that voiced concern over the disastrous impact of bauxite mining. According to government estimates, there are 1,000 million tonnes of bauxite reserves in the 24 hills spread over an extent of 384 kms from Anatagiri in Visakhapatnam district to Gurtedu in East Godavari. The Cess study is the latest in a series of reports that have been warning against undertaking the mining of the bauxite reserves. As early as in 2001, a report by Tata Energy Research Institute (Teri) had said that if the mining is undertaken, at least 10,000 trees will have to be pulled out and that the state will lose Rs 1,520 crore in terms of environmental degradation like soil erosion. Teri had also warned that the mining seriously threatened the Girija lifestyle and the eco-system of the Eastern Ghats. In the latest study, Cess has challenged the state government claims on the mining activity providing employment to the tribals. Mines and geology minister Sabita Indra Reddy had claimed in the budget session that the mining would provide direct employment to 3,000 people and to 10,000 others indirectly. The mining units would be heavily mechanised and hence would require the minimal of human labour, it said.

(Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Bauxite-mining-will-ruin-tribal-life-Cess/articleshow/5783479.cms)

'Reddy mines beyond lease area'

New Delhi, April 10, 2010: The first report of the Survey of India team on Obalapuram mines on the Andhra-Karnataka border to find out whether it encroached into Bellary reserve forest said mining activity was "in clear departure from the lease area of 68.50 hectares". After submitting the report to a bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice Deepak Verma, solicitor general Gopal Subramaniam indicated that the spread of mining activity was beyond the lease area. The report, a copy of which is with TOI, did not indicate largescale encroachment of forest land as was alleged by Andhra Pradesh government and ministry of environment and forests (MoEF), but the accompanying maps of the lease area and the actual mining area presented a clear departure from the boundaries. MoEF sources told TOI that the report about the first mine surveyed by the high-level team appointed by the apex court was on expected lines as no one had any major grievance about encroachment against this. However, the other two yet to be surveyed mines, when examined closely by the probe team, would tell a different story, they said.  The bench ordered that copies of the survey report be given to all parties, including the Reddy brothers, who own the mines, and Andhra Pradesh government. It posted the matter for further hearing on Monday.  To clearly demarcate the six mines in the area, the survey team has detailed a four-point scheme including clear delineation of Andhra Pradesh-Karnataka border. It also said that till the survey work was completed, there should be no mining activity.  On February 22, the SC had halted the multi-crore iron ore mining activity on all six mines when it was alleged by AP government that the politically powerful Reddy brothers were extracting iron ore by digging beyond their lease boundaries into Bellary reserve forest.  Appearing for the AP government, attorney general G E Vahanvati had accused the Reddys of proceeding at a breakneck speed after the February 26 judgment of the HC allowing them to continue mining. Vahanvati said in less than a month, nearly 250,000 tonnes of iron ore worth nearly Rs 37 crore was extracted from the mines. Earlier, the SC-appointed environmental panel CEC had said the state government had previously turned a blind eye to the largescale illegalities and encroachment in the mining operations of Reddy brothers "ostensibly because of the business partnership of OMC managing director Janardan Reddy, a cabinet minister in Karnataka government, with the son of former AP chief minister Y S R Reddy".

(Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Reddy-mines-beyond-lease-area/articleshow/5780054.cms)

Mines ministry sounds alarm on shipping of illegal iron ore

New Delhi, April 9, 2010: Taking note of illegally mined iron ore being shipped by the miners to the lucrative international markets by evading the regulatory system, the mines ministry has asked the shipping ministry to set up a mechanism to check if the royalty has been paid and the mines from which the mineral has been extracted are legal. In a letter, mines secretary Santha Sheela Nair drew the shipping ministry’s attention to the mounting reports on exports of illegally mined iron ore from the country. She pointed out that “the Central government has been noticing disturbing trends in the increasing incidents of illegal mining, especially in the case of iron ore directly associated with the boom in iron ore prices particularly in the international spot market.” Stating that the long-term agreements for exports of iron ore are limited to state-run enterprises such as National Mineral Development Corporation, and illegal trading by them “was a remote possibility,” she argued that the spot sales of iron ore in the export market were highly unorganised as they involved many medium and small players. “This export trade is difficult to monitor and regulate at the mine level, as most often the miners/traders use multiple sale points to evade the regulatory system. In such trading, the likelihood of exporting illegally mined minerals is very high and there is an immediate need for adequate checks at all levels to curb this malpractice,” Said Nair. The mines secretary said she was also writing to the chief secretaries of the states “to include officials from the local port authorities in the state-level coordination committees for mining.” There have been reports that miners/traders have been flouting the transport and royalty norms to transport their iron ore to the ports in connivance with state government officials. The port authorities understandably do not have the powers to verify documents relating to transporting the mineral. So the mines ministry has now asked for a suitable mechanism to detect illegal exports of ore.

(Source:http://www.indianexpress.com/news/minesministrysoundsalarmonshippingofillegalironore/602197/0)

Coal blocks now only for ‘capable’ companies

New Delhi, April 8, 2010: Discarding its age-old system of allocating coal blocks to steel, power and cement utilities through the screening committee route, the coal ministry has resolved to henceforth allocate all blocks through the competitive bidding process. “We have decided to allocate fresh blocks only through the competitive bidding process, primarily because we only want those companies who have the capability to develop blocks to get them. Our experience has been that numerous blocks were given to those who did not have the required capital-intensive technology to extract coal, ” coal minister Sriprakash Jaiswal told The Indian Express. Interestingly, a Group of Ministers, headed by then home minister Shivraj Patil had approved the proposal way back in 2007. The Union Cabinet, however, has only recently approved it. The coal ministry had favoured introduction of competitive bidding as a measure for ensuring fairness in allocation of coal blocks to stakeholders. The screening committee was considered to be a lengthy process and there was an express need to avoid delays to expedite allocations in a transparent manner. Therefore, till June last year, the ministry had allocated 201 coal blocks with geological reserves of about 45 billion tonnes to the government as well as private sector companies for both captive and commercial mining. The ministry is also under pressure from Coal India Limited (CIL), which has been demanding the allocation of 138 blocks to it for meeting its production plans and to increase availability of the fuel beyond the 12th Plan period. CIL chairman Partha Bhattacharyya has already voiced his concern on deallocating further blocks from the company’s fold and had instead argued that CIL would need more blocks to ensure uninterrupted coal supply.

 (Source:http://www.indianexpress.com/news/coalblocksnowonlyforcapablecompanies/601688/)

Orissa crackdown puts 30 iron plants on closure path, Centre plans meet

Bhubaneswar | Kolkata , April 8, 2010: The Orissa government's crackdown on illegal mines has virtually cut off iron ore supplies to a number of steel units not only in the state but also in neighbouring West Bengal and Chhattisgarh. On Wednesday, the Centre announced that a meeting involving these states will be held this month itself to evolve a mechanism to curb illegal mining. Besides seeking a consensus among the states for strategically curtailing such mining, it has asked Railways to check movement of minerals like iron ore through its network.     In West Bengal, 11 sponge iron plants have been closed down and in a week, 20 more will close down, industry sources said, adding that other units are running at 30-40% capacity. Similarly, in Chhattisgarh about half the sponge iron units have suspended production in the past two weeks as the supply of iron ore from Orissa-based iron ore private contractors has come to a grinding halt for over a month.     West Bengal and Chhattisgarh have 200 and 105 sponge iron plants, respectively while Orissa has over 100 sponge iron plants. Sponge iron goes into steel-making as a substitute for scrap. The state produces 70% of India's 222 million tonnes of iron ore.     The movement of iron ore has come to a standstill with the Orissa government suspending work in at least 69 iron ore mines after the private operators failed to produce documents to show their mining activities were legal and imposition of 144 CrPc at railway sidings in mineral-rich Keonjhar district over a month.     South Eastern Railways has been facing the brunt of it. A SER official said loading remains affected at railway sidings at Barbil, Jaruli and Banspani. Only Joda East has resumed operations.

(Source:http://epaper.timesofindia.com)

C'garh tribals don't have access to water, land

New Delhi, April 8, 2010: Chhattisgarh's key rivers, the Kelo, Kurkut, Shabri, Kharun, Sheonath and Maand, have all been handed over to private companies

With Chhattisgarh’s key natural resources including water, mining and power in the hands of private players, its local tribal population has been largely marginalised. Chhattisgarh’s key rivers, the Kelo, Kurkut, Shabri, Kharun, Sheonath and Maand have all been handed over to private companies to the strong condemnation of both CAG and the public accounts committee of the government. The water of the 95 km- long Kelo which passes through Raigarh and is its lifeline is being used by Jindal Steel and Power Ltd, which is lifting 35,400 cubic metres of water every day from the dam against the protest of the local farming community point out activists with NGO Janchetna. A large part of the Shabri river that flows through Naxalite-affected Dantewada in Bastar district is under the occupancy of Essar Steel Chhattisgarh Ltd. Several industrial houses have been allowed to build private dams on these rivers while many others are queuing up to sign proprietary rights on these waters senior sources in the ministry of water resources confirm. Undeterred by growing Naxalite presence, Chhattisgarh is also being developed as a major power hub in the country. The state government wants to finally develop up to one lakh MW of power and already the green signal has been given to 40 power projects worth over Rs 1,50,000 crores and expected to generate almost 40,000 MW in the next decade. The Chhattisgarh State Electricity Board has recently signed MOUs for 16 projects which will require an investment of up to Rs 50,000 crores. The power developers have received captive coal blocks and will be expected to sell 65 per cent of their coal outside the state. The problem Himanshu Kumar, a Gandhian activist who has been working with the displaced tribal population, points out, "What do these power stations hold for the tribals since they are being forced out of their lands. Chhattisgarh has the highest infant mortality rate in the country and its other social indicators are equally poor.” He cites the example of Vedanta bauxite mines where local tribal men and women have been employed as daily wagers earning less than Rs 100 per day. Goldy George, a sociologist, documenting indigenous populations in the country feels the present model of “development” bypasses all provision of the Fifth Schedule of the Con- stitution.

(Source:http://epaper.asianage.com/ASIAN/AAGE/2010/04/09/ArticleHtmls/09_04_2010_003_010.shtml?Mode=1)

Nine million kids in mining suffer severe health disorders

New Delhi, April 5, 2010:  The nine million children below the age of 14 working in the mining industry suffer from health disorders.  A study on the impact of mining on children undertaken by HAQ: Centre for Child Rights, Samata and Dhaatri Resource Centre for Women and Children has shown that not only are children being made to work in hazardous conditions but they are suffering from an variety of illnesses triggered by the kind of mining they are made to undertake.  In Bellary, Karnataka, both children and adults working in the iron ore mines were found to be suffering from acute asthma and TB caused from exposure to red dust.  In Raigarh district in Chhattisgrh, which is home of coal, iron ore, dolomite and limestone mining, the most common illnesses being reported amongst children are malaria, bronchitis, pneumonia, gastroenteritis, jaundice, arthritis and  more recently cases of hydrocele.  A study conducted by a local NGOs in the stone quarries of Maharashtra reveals that 50 per cent of the children working in stone quarries, especially in the Moshi district, suffer from skin disorders and asthma.  A local paediatric doctor, who had treated 70 children over a period of two-and-ahalf years, found kids exposed to the dust for more than five years were the most affected.  Mining is an extremely water-intensive activity required both for extraction and processing of minerals.  Drinking water sources are getting so contaminated that  the local population can not longer drink this water. A study has shown that chromium present in the water around the chromite mines in Orissa is causing nasal septrun ulcers and pneumonia and children with sores all over their body have become a common sight.  In the mica mining areas of Andhra Pradesh, young people now suffer from arthritis.  In Tamil Nadu, communities living close the lignite mines in Cuddalore district point out how their drinking water supply has got contaminated and this is the most common complaint by people living around and working in mines.

(Source:http://epaper.asianage.com/ASIAN/AAGE/2010/04/06/ArticleHtmls/06_04_2010_004_012.shtml?Mode=1)

Two dead in mine mishap

Hazaribagh, April 5, 2010: A major mishap at Central Coalfield Limited’s Siwana underground mines in Bhurkunda left two dead today.  An estimated 100 workers were present in the mine when a portion of the roof caved in this morning.  According to sources, while excavating coal, miners cut out pillars to secure the roof. The pillars in turn are bolstered by wooden blocks for added safety. Once the excavation is completed, the team removes the wooden blocks and shifts them to another place.  This afternoon, when the two workers were busy shifting the wooden blocks from pillar-27, the roof caved in all of a sudden, killing them on the spot. Senior manager of Bhurkunda project, A.L. Paul confirmed the deaths and identified the victims as Ramlal Turi and Kapil Mistri.  He said all the other workers were rescued soon after the incident. A worker said Kapil and Ramlal were part of a six-member team assigned the job of removing the wooden blocks supporting the pillars. As the coal started falling down, four of them managed to escape, but Ramlal and Kapil got trapped. He said nearly five to six tonne debris fell on them. Sources said Kapil was a resident of Jawahar Colony, while Ramlal lived in Kursek village. A large number of villagers gathered at the spot, including relatives of victims and other employees who had entered the mine. In 2005, 21 workers died in Bansgarha after water entered the underground mine.  In 2006, 10 illegal miners were killed when the roof of an abandoned mine collapsed in Rajrappa.

(Source:http://telegraphindia.com/1100406/jsp/frontpage/story_12306776.jsp)

One more mining lease for Arcelor

Ranchi, April 5, 2010: ArcelorMittal has been granted another iron ore mining lease in Jharkhand where the company has proposed to invest over Rs 40,000 crore for setting up a Greenfield steel project. The Union mines ministry has given a much-awaited nod to a proposal sent by the state government awarding prospecting licence for 662.95 hectares in Karampada area of mineral-rich West Singhbhum district. Agency reports from Delhi quoted Union mines minister B.K. Handique as saying that the Centre has approved one of the recommendations of the Jharkhand government to grant the prospecting licence to ArcelorMittal. The company, which is yet to make a logical headway for setting up the steel mill in Jharkhand, already enjoys mining lease on 202 hectares in another part of Karampada. It has been granted a coal block in Latehar’s Seregarha region that stretches over 3.5sqkm.  Earlier, ArcelorMittal had proposed to set up a 12MTPA steel plant but is learnt to have scaled down the project and now wants to start production from 3MTPA itself. Moreover, it has moved from the earlier proposed site of Torpa-Kolebira region in Khunti and Gumla districts, respectively, to Petarwar-Kasmar blocks of Bokaro district. Company officials had also visited the abandoned site of Sindri fertiliser factory where it can get ready-to-use land for setting up a steel unit.  ArcelorMittal had deposited a whopping Rs 13 crore with the Gumla district administration against transfer of government land in the district, which never happened. Now, with an eye on Petarwar-Kasmar, the company has proposed drawing up of water from neighbouring Tenughat dam in Bokaro. As far as the new prospecting licence in Karampada is concerned, the matter has been hanging in balance since 2007 when then chief minister Madhu Koda —who also used to hold mines portfolio — sent recommendations to the Centre in favour of over 1,000 in Karampada to ArcelorMittal. But as half the area (416.93 hectares) come under non-notified category (area legally not cleared for mining activities), the Centre had returned the proposal in 2009. Later, Jharkhand sent two separate recommendations for allotment of prospecting licence to the world’s largest steelmaker in West Singhbhum on December 31, 2009. Recently, the Centre again returned the proposal regarding non-notified area asking the latter to clear some queries. State mines director B.B. Singh confirmed the developments. “We have received a letter from the Union mines ministry with regards to the proposal sent by the state for non-notified areas of Karampada. We are looking into the matter and will reply soon,” he said.  ArcelorMittal’s general manager (mines) P.S. Prasad told The Telegraph that he was aware of latest developments. “The company is pursuing the Jharkhand project seriously,” he said.

(Source:http://telegraphindia.com/1100406/jsp/jharkhand/story_12306733.jsp)

Quepem, Curchorem locals assured on halt in mining traffic till April 10

Quepem, April 5, 2010: Curchorem MLA Shyam Satardekar and Quepem MLA Babu Kavlekar have assured residents of Quepem and Curchorem that mining traffic plying via Quepem and Curchorem will remain off the road till April 10. They were addressing the people gathered during the rasta roko agitation at Tilamoll-Quepem on Monday. It may be recalled that as per the notification issued by South Collector G P Naik on March 31, the mining trucks were kept off the road till April 4. However, residents of Quepem and Curchorem staged a rasta roko agitation on Monday at 9 am. Hundreds of people had gathered at the accident site, where a resident of Tilamol was crushed to death under a mining truck last week. A heavily armed police force was present at the site, while Deputy Collector Agnelo Fernandes, Mamlatdar Sudin Natu and senior police officials from Quepem, Curchorem and Sanguem were also stationed at the site. At about 9.45 am, Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar arrived to extend support to the locals on the sensitive issue taken by them. When Curchorem MLA Satardekar arrived at the spot, people confronted him and sought to know why he did not arrive at the accident site on the day of accident. Satardekar then assured the people that he was with them and would support the movement against mining trucks, as he himself has witnessed the hardship faced by the people. Incidentally, while Parrikar was addressing the gathering, he said he would speak to Quepem MLA Kavlekar on the issue.  When people came to know that Kavlekar was also present in the gathering, people demanded that he should come forward and clear his stand on the issue.  Quepem MLA Kavlekar also assured the people that he was with them and would try his best to get the bypass constructed as soon as possible. In his speech, Parrikar requested the mining transport contractors to keep their trucks off the road till April 10, as SSC exams will get over and by that time some meaningful decision will be taken and their further course of action will be discussed within that period. Parrikar promised to resolve the issue by taking into confidence the local MLAs and prominent citizens. “If the government is willing, then the issue can be solved in no time. However, this is not happening, as the government is involved in the mining activity,” claimed Parrikar. He praised the people, as they have demonstrated peacefully without any violence and urged them not to take law in their hands as he will find some solution to the issue by April 10. Meanwhile, in a move to counter the villagers of Quepem, the truck drivers headed by contractor Subhash Dessai convened a meeting in Quepem Bazar, where the mining contractors and truck owners expressed determination to resume ore transportation from April 7.

(Source:http://oheraldo.in/news/Local%20News/Quepem-Curchorem-locals-assured-on-halt-in-mining-traffic-till-April-10/35502.html)

300 homes turn gas chambers

Parbatpur (Bokaro), April 4, 2010: Kitchen fires have literally stopped burning in Fatehpur of Chandankyari block. Villagers have been surviving on dry gram and puffed rice for the last few days as the presence of coal-bed methane in their homes has made it impossible to strike a match indoors for fear of burning the house down.The area is about 34km from Bokaro steel city where Electrosteel Castings Limited is excavating coal from its recently acquired mines. Fed up with the situation, hundreds of villagers have embarked on an agitation, demanding food for all 300 families of Fatehpur from the administration till the problem was addressed.The villagers have found an ally in state labour minister Umakant Rajak who said Electrosteel’s stance was not pro-people. The district administration has posted Chandankyari circle officer R.K. Dubey at the spot along with BDO Jaivardhan to monitor the situation and negotiate with villagers. Meanwhile, district mining officer Bhola Harijan has cautioned Electrosteel officials to refrain from excavating any further as the continuous blasting at the mining site was releasing large quantities of coal bed methane which in turn was seeping into homes through cracks in the floor. Chas sub-divisional officer Manoj Kumar has also banned the underground explosions at Parbatpur coal mining zone till further orders. According to the villagers, lighting a chulha at home had become impossible as it was leading to fires in the homes. The administration has summoned ONGC experts to address the problem. Electrosteel officials have also kept water tankers and fire extinguishers on standby after a housewife suffered burns when she lit her chulha on Saturday. Leaking gas has also been detected from hand pumps. Manoj Kumar said due to underground explosions carried out by Electrosteel to excavate coal, a large quantity of methane had been detected in the area. ONGC experts are rushing to study the situation.

(Source:http://telegraphindia.com/1100405/jsp/jharkhand/story_12303085.jsp)

Once again, Centre prods Karnataka: probe illegal mines

New Delhi, March 3, 2010: With no action by the Karnataka government against the alleged illegal mining in the Bellary-Hospet-Sandhur belt - home to the Reddy brothers with mining interests in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh — Union Mines Minister B K Handique has made a strong case for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation. On March 30, in a letter to Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddiyurappa, Handique enclosed a list of 17 pending references on illegal mining in the state. The very next day, Handique sent a letter to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee asking for more staff to strengthen the mines regulator arguing that state governments weren’t being able to check irregularities in the sector. Prominent in Handique’s list to the Karnataka CM is the alleged encroachment by Tourism and Infrastructure Minister G Janardhana Reddy-promoted Obulapuram Mining Company Pvt Ltd (OMC).

(Source:http://www.indianexpress.com/news/onceagain-centreprodskarnatakaprobeillegalmines/599458/0)

Villagers protest uranium mining; officials allay fears

New Delhi, March 3, 2010: An expansion drive of the country’s only uranium mine under the aegis of the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), in East Singbhum district in Jharkhand, has drawn protests from locals who say the mines have proved to be serious health hazards. But officials of the corporation have rebutted the charge, claiming there was no cause for alarm. They pointed out that growing uranium needs of the country had to be met through enhanced operations. “I have had three abortions and lost five children within a week of their birth… Even after 20 years of marriage, we have no children today…” sobs Hira Hansda, from the village of Bhatin, in Jadugoda, one of the oldest uranium mines of the country. It is run by the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), in the East Singbhum district of Jharkhand. Kaderam Tudu from the village of Mechua considers himself fortunate when his wife at least gave birth to a surviving infant, but imagine his shock… “I found that my baby son did not have his right ear and instead in its place was a blob of flesh,” Tudu says. Today his son, Shyam Tudu, is about eight years old and suffers from severe hearing impairment. After two successive abortions the joy of Ramesh Hansda (name changed), an employee of the UCIL, knew no bounds when his wife delivered a healthy baby. But his happiness was short-lived as his son Birsa was born mentally challenged (The name of his village has been with held for obvious reasons). Despite these tragic stories, expansion of mining activities is on, although UCIL officials say it is only on a marginal scale. They point out that expansion is needed to generate the additional quantity of uranium for enhancing the country’s nuclear power generation capacity. The organisation has the sole responsibility of mining and processing of uranium ore in the country with five operational mines in Jadugoda, Bhatin, Turamdhih, Narwapahar, Banduhurang besides ore processing plant at Jadugoda & Turamdih in East Singbhum. The installed capacity of Jadugoda mines is 1,000 tonnes per day. Ramendra Gupta, Chairman cum Managing Director of the corporation attempts to douse fears when he says, “Apart from the renewal of lease of Jadugoda mines and receiving forestry clearance, for additional 6.37 hectares for stage three expansion of tailing dam the company would also go for the enhancement of ore processing capacity of the plant from 2,090 TPD to 2,500 TPD. But this can be said to be just a marginal expansion.” Marginal though the expansion may be, but the protest of local villagers is not as trivial. They continue to hold regular meetings. “The UCIL representatives are coming up and measuring our land and we are not consulted,” they claim. With display of banners and slogans pleading ‘Do not destroy our land’, ‘No uranium, no uranium waste’, ‘Care for the future’, the indigenous villagers have organised themselves under the banner of Jharkhandi Organisation Against Radiation (JOAR) and raised slogans against the hearing. JOAR is the winner of the German-based Nuclear Free Future Award for its continuous crusade against the hazards of uranium mining in Jadugoda. According to Ghanashyam Biruli, a local villager and JOAR president, their demands include no new uranium mine, bringing existing mines under the international safety guidelines, returning tribal land acquired earlier but not utilised for mining, providing livelihood and rehabilitation to the displaced people, cleaning up the contamination, conducting an independent study about the environmental contamination and health effects among the people and continuous monitoring of water bodies to ensure that radio-nuclides do not seep into the aquifer, the life line of more than 1 lakh people. The activists also reiterate their position that there is no compelling need to expand the capacity of UCIL as the country can now buy uranium from international market.  Sharing the villagers’ concern, Arun Mitra, Secretary, Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD), says that according to the recently conducted health survey of the villagers by the Bihar chapter of the association, “Primary sterility was found to be more common in the people residing near uranium mining operations area”.  IDPD is the Indian chapter of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW). He adds that more children with congenital deformities were being born to mothers. Also, congenital defect as a cause of death of a child was high among mothers living near uranium mining operations area. Further, cancer as a cause of death was more common in villages surrounding uranium operations. The life expectancy of people living near uranium mining operations area is less and as a result more people are dying in their early ages in villages around uranium mining operation area. Retorting to such hazards said to be affecting the villages close to the mines, Director Technical of UCIL D Acharya points out, “In such a situation, the worst affected should have been our own employees, who are working inside the uranium mines and directly dealing with the uranium ore, but when they are not impacted by the radiation, how do they expect us to believe that these villagers residing 10 to 15 kms away from the mines are so gravely affected.” He further states that the fitness of the employees can be gauged from the fact that the football team of UCIL has been the champion, winning the DAE tournaments for the past five years. “From time to time we have also conducted structured health surveys and examinations, by independent sources -one was done by the erstwhile Bihar Assembly about ten years ago, but the findings are absolutely normal. There is nothing to feel so alarmed,” he assures.

(Source:http://www.dailypioneer.com/246511/Villagers-protest-uranium-mining;-officials-allay-fears.html)

Illegal mining: Centre tells Karnataka you need to probe

April 3, 2010: With no action by the Karnataka government against the alleged illegal mining in the Bellary-Hospet-Sandhur belt —- home to the Reddy brothers with mining interests in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh—Union mines minister BK Handique has made a strong case for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation. On March 30, in a letter to Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddiyurappa, Handique enclosed a list of 17 pending references on illegal mining in the state. The very next day, Handique sent a letter to finance minister Pranab Mukherjee asking for more staff to strengthen the mines regulator arguing that state governments weren’t being able to check irregularities in the sector. Prominent in Handique’s list to the Karnataka CM is the alleged encroachment by tourism and infrastructure minister G Janardhana Reddy-promoted Obulapuram Mining Company Pvt Ltd (OMC). The Indian Express, in an investigative series last month covering two states and six districts, had highlighted how rules had been allegedly bent by the Reddy brothers. The Union mines minister pointed out to Yeddiyurappa that “not much action appears to have been taken so far and reports of illegal mining continue to be received”. Over four months back, on November 16, 2009, Handique had first asked Karnataka to set up a special investigation team (SIT) and had even then offered Central assistance. While Andhra Pradesh, where the Reddys have four mining leases agreed to a CBI probe, the BJP government in Karnataka denied any assistance. The eldest of the brothers G Karunakara Reddy is revenue minister in Karnataka and Somasekhara Reddy is a BJP MLA from Bellary. Seeking Yeddiyurappa’s personal intervention, Handique said if basic administrative measures are neglected, it can lead to an absolute collapse of the regulatory system at the field level. Simultaneously, to beef up the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), the Central regulator for the sector, Handique has asked finance minister Pranab Mukherjee to quickly fill up 100 posts abolished way back in 2001. He said the matter has already been discussed with the department of personnel and training. In his letter to Mukherjee, Handique said: “Since an extraordinary situation has been created in the wake of increased incidents of illegal mining...I am seeking a favourable decision on the proposal for revival of posts in IBM.” According to Handique, one of the most common causes of increase in illegal activity was the absence of boundary pillars demarcating leasehold areas. “The State Revenue Department in non-forest areas and the State Forest Department in the forest areas need to take up the demarcation of boundary of mining leases on a mission mode in order to avoid further aberrations,” he wrote to Yeddiyurappa. The mines ministry had advised the state to prepare an action plan which included use of modern technology like satellite imagery, GPS for boundary demarcations, use of holograms on transport permits, identifying trigger points like prices of mineral, excess production, etc, to control illegal activities. “However, it is not yet clear whether the state government has been able to use these to effectively take action,” he noted.

(Source:http://www.financialexpress.com/news/illegalminingcentretellskarnatakayouneedtoprobe/599260/0)

BCCL plea on royalty use

Dhanbad, April 2, 2010: Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) has requested the state government to utilise the extra money it has paid as royalty cess for 2009- 10 fiscal to execute the Rs 7,028-crore master plan to rehabilitate the victims of a raging underground fire in Jharia. Chairman-cum-managing director of Bharat Coking Coal Limited T.K. Lahiri made the appeal at a news meet at the BCCL headquarters in Koyla Bhavan on Thursday evening. In 2009-10, the coal company paid Rs 553-crore royalty to the state government, Rs 92 crore more than what it had coughed up in 2008-09. “The government can utilise the extra sum as supplementary money for execution of the plan,” said Lahiri while furnishing growth statistics of the company. Earlier, BCCL had paid more than Rs 50 crore to Jharia Rehabilitation Development Authority (JRDA), the implementing agency for the master plan. Recently, JRDA distributed allotment letters and keys of flats to 216 non-BCCL (illegal settlers) families of Bokapahari, Rajput Bustee, Gwalapatti, Luj pit, Sudamdih Colliery, Naya Dhauda, Kukurtopa and Khairakanal. They are being relocated to Belgarhia. Lahiri said that BCCL recorded the highest ever profit of Rs 402.29 crore in 2009-10. It also achieved the highest growth in production — 7.83 per cent.  Production in 2009-10 was 27.512 million tonne as against 25.514 million tonne in 2008-09.

(Source:http://telegraphindia.com/1100403/jsp/jharkhand/story_12298166.jsp)

Orissa mining prohibitory order cannot cover theft, says Additional Solicitor General

Kolkata, April 2, 2010: Did the Orissa Government do the right thing when it promulgated early last month the prohibitory order under Section 144Cr PC in the mining areas in Keonjhar district and thus bringing to a total halt mining, storage and transportation of iron ore in that area?

The Additional Solicitor General of India does not think so. In response to a query by the Railways, the Additional Solicitor General has made it clear that the Orissa Government order is erroneous and therefore is liable to be set aside by a higher judicial court. The prohibitory order Section 144CrPC was promulgated by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate in Champua in Keonjhar district of Orissa following a FIR lodged by the Deputy Director (Mines), Government of Orissa, on March 4, alleging that between January 1 and 23, as many as 62 rakes were loaded with iron ore and dispatched and in all these cases consignors and consignees were not the lessees of the mines. It was therefore presumed that the ore was procured by theft and the pilfered material was transported in connivance with the Railways. The contention of the Additional Solicitor General is that the theft is not within the purview of the Section 144CrPC which envisages urgent cases of nuisances and apprehended danger and authorises District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate or an empowered Executive Magistrate to make an order directing any person to abstain from certain act if he thinks that such an order will prevent obstruction, annoyance or injury to any person lawfully employed, or danger to human life, health and safety or disturbance of public tranquillity or riot, etc. It is only in the face of such situations that an order under Section 144CrPC can be issued by a judicial magistrate. In the present case, such situations are conspicuous by their absence.

(Source:http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/04/03/stories/2010040351620500.htm)

Thermal projects may hit roadblock

The country’s ambitious thermal power generation targets over the next few years to meet the acute shortages as well as the rapidly growing demand may hit an environmental roadblock.

New Delhi, April 2, 2010: The reason: the coal deposits may be there in abundance but it may not be possible to mine the fuel. Almost one-third of the country’s top grade coal reserve would not be available for mining as these areas are now considered to be ecologically too fragile to allow mining. New coal mines can come up in the remaining areas but even here automatic approval may not be possible any longer.  Before getting the required nod for mining, the mine-owners have to come up a good remediation plan for the surroundings which would be damaged by the mining activities. Further, if the mining involves displacement of forest-dwellers, rules under the forest rights act would have to be satisfied before getting the environment and forest clearances. The environment clearance will come from the Centre whereas the forest clearance would be given by the state concerned. Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh, who surveyed nine major coalfields recently,  informed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last week that 35 per cent areas would be “no-go” areas for mining. In these areas mining must not be allowed under any circumstances, he told the Prime Minister. Mining activity can go on only in the remaining 65 per cent areas. The nine coal fields are: North Karanpura, IB Valley, Singaurali, Talcher, West Bokaro, Wardha, Mandraigarh, Hasdeo and Shoagpur. They are located in six states – Chhattishagrh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The Cabinet has been informed that henceforth coal mining projects would get the approval based on the ultimate production capacity thereby obviating the need for repeated clearances when expansion takes place. Ramesh has claimed that  Coal Minister Sri Prakash Jaiswal was on board with the new plan and officials from environment ministry would be a part of the approval process when Coal India allocates new blocks for mining. India’s coal demand is set to rise as the country will be adding 50,758 MW capacity during the 11th plan, out of which 15,208 MW has already been installed. The new projects include the five ultra-mega power plants as well. The 12th plan targets are equally ambitious as the Union power ministry has worked out a scheme to add another 78,700 MW out of which more than 50,000 MW would be thermal. Ramesh has, however, felt that blocking 35 per cent of coal-bearing areas would not be a limiting factor if the required forest clearance for new mines came quickly from states. This, however, remains a bottleneck. Jharkhand, for instance, is notorious in delaying forest clearance.

(Source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/61838/thermal-projects-may-hit-roadblock.html)

Ramesh: I’m not delaying projects

New Delhi, April 01, 2010: Environment minister Jairam Ramesh, criticised for delaying infrastructure projects over green clearance, hit back at one of the complainants — the National Highways Authority of India — on Wednesday. He said the “NHAI has cut a lot of trees” to construct highways and its track record on reforestation is not “good”. This comes on the heels of road transport minister Kamal Nath writing to the PM, accusing Ramesh’s ministry of delaying highway projects. The environment ministry allows the cutting of trees for projects on condition that the project proponent plants a certain number of trees elsewhere. “The criticism that there is delay is baseless,” Ramesh said. He said his ministry gave environment and forest clearance to 95 and 85 per cent projects, respectively, and should in fact “increase rejection rate”. 

(Source:http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/newdelhi/Ramesh-I-m-not-delaying-projects/Article1-525632.aspx)

Plan panel seeks faster enviro-nods for power

New Delhi, April 01, 2010: The Planning Commission wants the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MEF) to fast track its process of clearing power and coal mining projects. Expressing concern over the long list of pending projects, the Plan panel has asked the MEF to issue clearance to power and coal mine projects within 4 months. Although environment and forest clearance must be given within five months, as per current norms, it is a much longer process in practice. The issue of environment and forest clearance for coal mines and power projects is already an area of tension between the Ministries of Power, Coal and Environment.Recently, media reports quoted Union minister for environment and forest, Jairam Ramesh, as saying that his ministry had asked the Planning Commission and the coal ministry to work out a new policy to allocate coal blocks. Such a policy, if implemented, would restrict mining, even in explored coal bearing areas, that is clearly marked as `no go’ due to presence of thick stretch of forest or other environment related issues. It would be interesting to see whether the MEF accepts the latest Planning Commission suggestion to reduce the time period for environment clearance. “The process of giving forest and environment clearance takes unnecessary time. Most often, even after 150 days, no clearance is given. If the ministry keeps delaying clearance, it would have serious impact on several projects in the 11th and 12th Plan. We have asked the MEF to improve the speed of doing due diligence over the proposed mining projects,” said a senior official in the Planning Commission. Jairam Ramesh did not reply to a message sent on his phone, on this issue.

(Source:http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report_plan-panel-seeks-faster-enviro-nods-for-power_1365898)

…But offer no answer to recent political games, wanton mining

Panjim, April 2, 2010: GPYC President Sankalp Amonkar on Friday said they had no big role to play as far as the recent political wrangling in the State was concerned, but admitted whatever was happening was bad and having an effect on the administrative functioning, a cry matching that of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Answering a question posed by media persons on what he felt on the whole issue of this political arm twisting, Amonkar said, “This groupism in politics is bad and the issue has to be sorted out. There should be an end to this. We have expressed our resentment to Goa desk-in charge Kiran Reddy through a representation.” The GPYC President said the matter will now be placed before the National Youth Congress President Rajiv Satav on April 12 where it will be discussed threadbare in a meeting. Answering a question on whether the GPYC had applied its mind to the wanton mining in some parts of the State, Amonkar said, “We know about it but have not visited some of he mining-affected places. Mining has been going on for so many years but the necessary precautions have not been taken by the authorities concerned. We know the condition of some villages is bad.” We will take up this matter too with the national president, he stated.

(Source:http://oheraldo.in/news/Local%20News/hellip-But-offer-no-answer-to-recent-political-games-wanton-mining/35419.html)