CURRENT NEWS

MARCH 2010

 

Coal block policy may specify banned areas to fast track projects

New Delhi, March 30, 2010: The government aims at giving faster approval to coal projects that are delayed due to environment and forestry clearances and is planning a new system for allocating coal blocks that would clearly specify `go’ and `no go’ mining areas for any infrastructure project. “We have asked the Planning Commission and the coal ministry to work out a new policy for allocating coal blocks that bars mining even in explored coal bearing areas that is clearly marked as `no go’ on account of presence of thick contiguous stretch of forest or other environment related issues,” minister of state for environment and forests Jairam Ramesh said. As per an assessment done by the ministry of environment, 35% of areas earmarked for coal mining in the country could be `no go’ areas. In the remaining 65%, 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. It takes about 250 days for mining projects to get environment clearance and 150 days to get forest clearance from the Centre once the proposal is send by states governments. In the absence of coordination between coal ministry, state governments and environment and forest ministry, several `no go’ areas of coal mining comes up for allocation. This not only makes forest clearance process difficult but delays implementation of projects. As part of the changes in the coal block allocation policy, the ministry of environment and forest has also sought its representation in the screening committee of the coal ministry. This committee is responsible for allocating captive coal blocks to prospective companies in steel, power and cement sectors. It is felt that inclusion of environment ministry would prevent allocation of coal blocks to companies where getting forestry clearance is impossible. It is expected that government may ask its agencies to prepare digitised maps of the entire country in terms of presence of mineral resources located in densely forested areas where mining activities could cause severe environmental damage. These areas would be clearly marked as `no go’ areas to prevent any confusion. The process will also help in identifying coal bearing localities where there is least possibility of damage to dense forest cover thereby approval from forestry angle can be faster. “It is a good move that would not only fast track projects but prevent companies from getting into projects where statutory clearances may not come through. However, the government should also work out alternatives if restriction on mining in `no go’ areas actually depletes availability of natural resources in the country,” said an analyst looking at metals and mining sector asking not to be named. As per the latest data collected by Geological Survey of India (GSI), a cumulative total of 267.21 billion tone of geological resources of coal have so far been estimated in the country. The annual production of coal in the country is roughly 500 million tonne.

(Source:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Policy/Coal-block-policy-may-specify-banned-areas-to-fast-track-projects/articleshow/5740886.cms)

Supreme Court to Lafarge: no environment clearance, no mining

New Delhi, March 30, 2010: Making it clear that the French company Lafarge should comply with Indian laws and get a fresh Environment Impact Assessment done for its limestone mines in Meghalaya forests, the Supreme Court on Monday refused to vacate its stay on mining operations. A Bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justices S.H. Kapadia and Aftab Alam said it would not permit mining unless the cement company obtained environment clearance as per the guidelines of the Central Empowered Committee.

Why exception?

When Attorney-General G.E. Vahanvati submitted a proposal for payment of compensation of about Rs. 55 crore and Rs. 10 crore every year, senior counsel Fali Nariman, appearing for Lafarge, said it was acceptable to the company. When Mr. Vahanvati pleaded for allowing mining operations, Justice Kapadia told him: “We do not give permission for any mining activity without EIA done. If this court has not allowed anyone to do mining without EIA, why should we allow you as an exception?” While posting the matter to April 9, the Bench asked the Attorney-General to prepare a draft order on the EIA and the conditions that could be imposed on Lafarge for continuing the mining operations. The AG said he would ensure that at least a short EIA was done after informing the people of the area of the committee's visit. Even as amicus curiae Harish Salve suggested that the AG's proposal be accepted, senior counsel P.S. Narasimha, appearing for the petitioners opposing mining operations, pointed out that till now the French firm had not obtained environment clearance and no EIA had been done. The company was allowed mining on the basis of a wrong clearance that the land was not forest land. When all Indian mines were not allowed without EIA or environmental clearance, why should special preference be shown to the French company?

Mr. Salve endorsed Mr. Narasimha's submissions and said that without a fresh EIA done no mining activity should be permitted.

(Source:http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article321606.ece)

Get fresh EIA, SC tells Lafarge

New Delhi, March 30, 2010: Environmental considerations outweighed India's sensitive bilateral ties with Bangladesh as the Supreme Court on Monday insisted that limestone mining in Meghalaya's dense forest by French multinational Lafarge for its cement plant could not be resumed without an environmental impact assessment (EIA). Before seeking permission for resumption of mining limestone for supply to Bangladesh that would help India keep its solemn promise to its neighbour, Attorney General G E Vahanvati presented a detailed plan, which included payment of Rs 50 crore by Lafarge for compensatory afforestation and an annual amount of not less than Rs 10 crore for setting up of schools, hospitals and irrigation facilities in Meghalaya to benefit the local people. Lafarge had agreed to comply with the terms of this plan. But, a Bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices S H Kapadia and Aftab Alam said it would be improper for the court, which had always insisted on an EIA clearance, to permit mining which was stayed on the ground that the earlier forest clearance was obtained fradulently. Amicus curiae Harish Salve and senior advocate P S Narasimha, who appeared for Shella Action Committee, which is a body of villagers, argued that everything about the project was done in a very shoddy manner. This included the forest clearance that was obtained with a false description of the land as barren when it actually was dense forest. Vahanvati agreed that there had been some shortcomings in the grant of EIA but said since Lafarge has agreed to pay up for compensatory afforestation and also fund a special purpose vehicle (SPV) under the Meghalaya government for development of the local area around the mines, it should be permitted to resume mining which was vital to Bangladesh's cement plant. "Lafarge and Meghalaya will set up an SPV which will be responsible for administering a fund for the development of health, education, economy, irrigation and agriculture in the project area of 50 km solely for the local community and the welfare of the tribals," the AG said. But, with the Bench not ready to give permission for resumption of mining without an EIA, AG said that he would impress upon the concerned ministry to fast-track the process. The Bench asked the government to report back on the EIA front on April 9, the next date of hearing. The Bench had put an interim stop on the mining of limestone in East Khasi Hills district on environmental ground on February 5 that made the Centre rush to the court as both the Bangladesh and French governments activated their diplomatic channels to lodge protests. Lafarge Umuiam Mining Pvt Ltd (LUMPL) was mining the limestone quarry area spread over 100 hectares near the India-Bangladesh border for supply of raw material to Lafarge Surma's $255 million cement plant at Chhatak in Sunamganj. Lafarge and Spanish cement producer Cementos Mollins had set up the state-of-the-art fully integrated cement plant at Chhatak with a captive power plant of 300 MW.

(Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/developmental-issues/Get-fresh-EIA-SC-tells-Lafarge-/articleshow/5739823.cms)

‘Brick units, granite quarries pose threat to environment’

Kalpetta, March 29, 2010: The environmental committee of the Sasthra Sahitya Parishad district committee has demanded the government to curb the increasing number of brick making units and unscientific granite mining in the district. The increasing number of brick making units in Panamaram Panchayat and the manual sand (M-sand) making units and granite quarries in Ambalvayal Panchayat has been posing a major threat to the environment, the committee said in a release. Acres of conventional paddy-cultivated land had been converted into brick making units and the functioning of such units was against the norms of the Land Utilisation Acts of the State, they alleged. The immature granite rocks in Ambalavayal area are the natural sources of collecting rain water and the increasing number of M- sand units and granite quarries would destroy the perennial sources of water in those areas. The committee also demanded to set up an environmental protection cell under the district administration to act quickly on the environment-related issues. A district wise campaign on land utilisation to sensitise the public under the aegis of Sasthra Sahitya Parishad district committee will be launched soon, they said.

(Source:http://beta.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/article321156.ece)

152 trapped in flooded coal mine in China

Beijing, March 29, 2010: At least 152 workers were trapped when a vast coal mine in northern China flooded on Sunday, state media reported, in the latest incident in the country's hazardous mining industry.  A total of 261 miners were working in the pit in Shanxi province at the time, and just over 100 managed to escape, the official Xinhua news agency said. The mine in Xiangning county belongs to Huajin Coking Coal, and is 180 square kilometres big, the report said. China's coal mines are among the most dangerous, with safety standards often ignored in the quest for profits and the drive to meet surging demand for coal -the source of about 70 per cent of China's energy.

(Source:http://epaper.asianage.com/ASIAN/AAGE/2010/03/29/ArticleHtmls/29_03_2010_008_007.shtml?Mode=1)

District-level watchdogs to protect coastal zone from illegal sand mining

Mumbai, March 29, 2010: Special bodies at district level will monitor illegal sand mining and other violations of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms.  The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) took the decision to set up such bodies at a meeting Thursday. The committees, under the district collectors and comprising experts and non-government organisations, will crack down on sand mining in places such as Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Raigad.  “Right now, the MCZMA can at the most summon the district collector and direct him to take action. However, this may not necessarily figure in the priority list for the collector,” said TC Benjamin, MCZMA member and state urban development secretary.  The committee will suggest punitive active against offenders and also curb illegal constructions in CRZ areas, as in the case of Alibaug. Last week, the collector served notices to 14 unauthorised beach bungalows in Alibaug, including one belonging to industrailist Yash Birla, and started demolition proceedings. The action followed a public interest litigation in the Bombay High Court.  MCZMA chairperson and state environment secretary Valsa Nair-Singh said the committee will be expected to meet monthly to monitor all matters pertaining to the CRZ. “The district collector is entitled to take action against any violation under the Environment Protection Act,” she said.  “A district-level committee is a step in the right direction but merely monitoring is not enough; there is a need for proper enforcement also. The committee members have to be selected carefully since it is a known fact that local NGO representatives in such committees are mostly controlled by politicians,” said environment activist Sumaira Abdulali who was attacked earlier this month, allegedly for campaigning against illegal sand dredging in Raigad.  Abudulali is fighting a case on illegal sand mining in the High Court. “The district collector, in his affidavit in the High Court, said there are no cases of illegal sand mining in Raigad. Unless the committee has the right kind of people who will strictly ensure that there are no violations, it won’t serve any purpose,” Abdulali said.

(Source:http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/districtlevelwatchdogstoprotectcoastalzonefromillegalsandmining/596923/#)

Team surveys iron ore mines

Anantapur, March 28, 2010: Officials of the Survey of India, Dehradun, conducted a survey in six iron ore mines in D Hirehal mandal in Anantapur district on Sunday under Major General Mr A.K. Padha. They examined two global positioning systems arranged in the Antargangamma, which are to be coordinated with the satellite centre in Hyderabad for further reference. Later, they examined rock marks and other boundary pillars across Tumiti and H Siddapuram mandals. The survey team disclosed that referral points and boundary pillars were disturbed and new ones have to be erected to fix boundaries. The team said that they would submit the survey report to the Supreme Court before April 9.

(Source:http://www.deccanchronicle.com/hyderabad/team-surveys-iron-ore-mines-840)

Mining: Survey in border areas continues

Bellary, March 28, 2010:

The six-member team of Survey of India continued the survey of mining areas on Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border on Sunday also.

The Supreme Court has directed the apex mapping agency to conduct the survey following allegations of encroachment of forest land for mining activities. The team, which is using GPS technology and satellite imagery for the task, marked referral points for survey at Tumati and Siddapuram villages. The team headed by  Addititional Survey General Ashok Kumar Padha, consists of Deputy Director U N Mishra, Joint Director (Mines and Geology) C L Narasimha Reddy, K N Reddy representing  Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, Anantapur Chief Conservator of Forests Padhmanabhaiah and Survey and Land Records Deputy Director Chalapathi Rao, as other members. The team also visited the Antharagangamma Konda (AGK) Mines which belonged to the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) owned by Minister Janardhana Reddy and his brothers. The representatives of OMC were also said to be present during the survey.
Interim report
The team will continue survey of five other mines after submitting an interim report on AGK Mines. The apex court has directed to submit the interim report before April 9.

(Source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/60761/mining-survey-border-areas-continues.html)

Jairam cuts no ice with PM, GoM to clear projects

New Delhi, March 26, 2010:In a direct snub to Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday constituted a five-member ministerial committee that will review and clear pending infrastructure projects that were stuck because of the Environment Ministry’s insistence that they lacked appropriate clearances.  Sources said the Group of Ministers (GoM) — comprising Steel Minister Virbhadra Singh, Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Planning Commission Vice-Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal and Ramesh — was constituted following a discussion in the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in which Ramesh attempted to justify the defiant stand of his ministry. After listening to his detailed presentation, the Prime Minister said he was setting up the committee to ensure that all pending projects stalled by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) were put on the fast-track. A majority of the pending projects relate to iron ore and coal mining clearances as well as power project approvals.

(Source:http://www.indianexpress.com/news/jairamcutsnoicewithpm-gomtoclearprojects/595895/0)

Bokaro now a heat chamber

- Temperatures touch 42°C, old timers say it’s abnormal

Bokaro, March 26, 2010: This week saw maximum temperatures touching 42 degree Celsius with accompanying hot winds turning the steel city into a heat chamber, unlike anything old timers in Bokaro recall having experienced in the first month of summer. If Sunday’s maximum temperature was 38.6 degree Celsius, Tuesday and Wednesday recorded a daily rise of over two degrees (see chart), forcing residents to stay indoors.  “I have never experienced anything like this in March before,” said Chas College professor S.K. Sinha, a resident of the town for the last four decades.  According to scientists of the coal belt, illegal mining and massive deforestation drives in the name of development led to normal temperatures rising by 1.2 degrees in the last decade in Jharkhand.  As a result, days were becoming hotter every year. According to Gurdeep Singh, the head of the department of environmental science at Indian School of Mines (ISM), urgent measures were needed to be taken to conduct massive afforestation drives. “If we can’t act to stop erratic mining, deforestation in the name of development, green house gases will convert our planet into a heat chamber which will pose a serious threat not only to the human race, but also to standing crops,” he cautioned. He lamented the lack of any serious effort on the part of the state government to check the rising number of vehicles and illegal mining. Also, there was no move to stop noxious emissions which was aggravating environmental problems. Senior citizens of Bokaro don’t recall experiencing such rising temperatures in many years. Senior scientist of Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR) Abhijit Sarkar warned that if temperatures keep rising at this pace, several countries of the world would vanish by 2050. “So individuals like us will have to take the initiative to cut carbon emission at our own levels, in our own cities to save the earth,” he said.

(Source:http://telegraphindia.com/1100326/jsp/jharkhand/story_12264249.jsp)

Illegal mining rocks Assembly

Jaipur, March 26, 2010:  The Rajasthan Assembly on Thursday witnessed noisy scenes over illegal mining activities in various areas of the State. The House was adjourned for an hour after the agitated Opposition members stepped into the well shouting slogans and demanding setting up an Assembly committee to look into allegations of corruption and illegal mining which was, however, not conceded by the Government. Prior to the adjournment the MLAs also staged a walk out expressing dissatisfaction over the response of the Minister. The issue came up in the House during Zero Hour following two sets of notices for calling attention. Curiously enough the notice put up jointly by 24 MLAs contained the names of Congress members Raghu Sharma, Pratap Singh Kachariwas and Sona Ram who too did not spare the Minister. The MLAs alleged widespread corruption in the Mining Department both in the allocation of mines as well as in checking illegal mining. The amnesty scheme announced by the Government recently was to help mine owners who were defaulters, they charged. Deputy Leader of Opposition Ghanshyam Tiwari, who pressed for constitution of a House Committee, accused the Minister of not accepting the factual position. “Even when the whole House is talking about corruption in the Mining Department the Minister denies the same,” he pointed out. As the Opposition walked out, Minister for Environment and Forests and Mines Ramlal Jat sought the Speaker's protection pointing out that he was being denied a chance to answer to the charges. Things were in order in the department and there was a 40 per cent increase in the revenue. The Department was also nearing the target set for revenue collection even when there is one month left for the end of the current fiscal, he pointed out. “The Opposition charges are baseless and motivated,” he said. There were noisy protests when CPI (M) MLA Amra Ram sought to know how many of the MLAs who gave notice for the motion themselves were --or had their relatives-- involved in mining activities. “It is unethical to raise the issue if they themselves are a party,” he pointed out. The commotion which followed made Speaker Deependra Singh Shekhawat adjourn the House for an hour. Peace returned when the House reassembled and thereafter the demands for Health and Labour were taken up for discussion. As in the case of illegal mining the Government had to face some embarrassing moments earlier in a discussion on corruption in the implementation of the job scheme, NREGA. The issue, raised by senior BJP member Gulab Chand Kataria, led to some of the Congress members like Sona Ram targeting the Government. The confession of Bharat Singh, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, that his directive for action against the erring officials went unheeded in the past, added to the Opposition vigour.

(Source:http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/26/stories/2010032661630700.htm)

Childhood in pits, says report on Indian mining

New Delhi, March 25, 2010: Painting a frightening picture of the extent of violation of children's rights in the mining areas across the country, HAQ, a child rights organisation, has said that the government must recognise that children are impacted by mining. “The impacts must be considered and addressed at all stages of mining cycles and this concern must find reflection in the present governance structure,” said non-governmental organisations HAQ, Samata, and Mines, Minerals and People in their latest ‘Report on the impacts of mining on children' titled “India's Childhood in Pits.”   Malnourished, denied access to education, and living and working in dangerous conditions, India's “mining children” are leading horrendous lives. Previously unexplored, and therefore inevitably neglected, the links between children and mining have not yet been taken seriously by policy-makers or activists, it says. It is not possible to give an accurate figure of the number of children working in mining and quarrying in India, it says. Census 2001 reported there were 45,135 children between 5-14 years working in the mining sector, accounting for nearly 7 per cent of working children in India. Child labour figures are only disaggregated in the census up to 14 years. However, figures reveal that many in the 15-19-year group work in this sector — 161,585 according to the Census. The report points out that the figures provided by the Census grossly underestimate the scale of the problem. Organisations working on mining in Rajasthan estimate that around 3,75,000 children work in the mines and quarries across that State alone. In Karnataka, estimates suggest that there are at least a few lakh children engaged in mining. The blurring of children and women's labour has been cited as one impediment to accurate data on children working in mines in India, as often in reports and statistics, women and children are lumped together. Further the report says that while poverty is often presented as the only factor that explains child labour in the mining sector, the actual picture is far more complex. Several socio-economic factors have led to a situation where large numbers of children can still be seen toiling in mines and quarries. The systemic and deliberate reason is that child labour is cheap, and this cheap labour is welcomed by contractors in the mining and quarrying sector. Children are also compliant, easier to control and have no bargaining power. They are often forced into mining because of the low wages received by their parents. The findings from this study provide a strong reason for an urgent comprehensive assessment of the status of children in mining areas — children of mine workers as well as of local communities, child labour engaged in mining and the status of the institutional structures for them, the report suggests. It also calls for addressing the glaring loopholes in the law, policy and implementation related to mining in general, and private and small scale mining in particular that are related to children. It also suggested developing guidelines for migrant labour and the un-organised sector and the pre-conditions that need to be fixed before mining leases are granted.

(Source: http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/25/stories/2010032560252000.htm)

Mine of worms

India needs a national mining regulator

New Delhi, March 25, 2010: The words “mining” and “scam” seem to be inseparable. Most of these relate to mining of iron ore, although taint to other minerals can’t be ruled out. The ingredients of the scam are as follows. The state government grants mining leases to dubious private parties in a non-transparent way, certainly without a public auction. Maybe there are the so-called “bedroom” auctions. Subsequently, there is very little monitoring of compliance of lease conditions. Enforcement and monitoring officials are bought out, or become compromised. Crony capitalism ensures that this wink-and-nod indulgence cuts across political lines, hence nobody makes a fuss. Add to this cocktail the voracious appetite of pre-Olympics China for iron ore which caused ore spot prices to jump by 500 per cent in the past five years. To top it all, you have ministers entangled in this gold rush. This heady cocktail was bound to lead to unforeseen political explosions. In Jharkhand, a former chief minister is in the dock charged with “selling” leases, and old leases are being investigated. In Karnataka, the government was split and almost toppled due to charges of illegal mining in Bellary. The billionaire barons of Bellary owe their meteoric rise to wealth from iron ore mining, and among them are the Reddys whose writ runs large in Bellary, and who are also cabinet ministers. In Orissa, in response to a PIL, more than 125 leases have been suspended on charges of flouting lease conditions. The Supreme Court-appointed Centrally Empowered Committee described Orissa’s mining leases as a “can of worms”. Finally, in Andhra Pradesh, the apex court has suspended mining operations of a mining company owned by the Reddy brothers of neighbouring Karnataka. The charges against the company are illegal mining, muscling onto neighbouring leases and encroaching state forest boundaries. As the political heat rises, there is, however, a danger that some obvious lessons may be lost in charges and counter-charges. The root causes of all these scams are inevitably linked to mispricing of the resource and licences, insufficient teeth for enforcement and monitoring of the leases, and an inadequate mechanism for addressing grievances. The mispricing problem can be fixed by making lease allotment more transparent, i.e. through a public auction. No special consideration should be given to “captive” mine leases, which often serve as disguised freebies. After all, since steel is sold at international parity prices, why should iron ore be artificially cheap to steelmakers? The same applies to coal, which will soon be auctioned to private miners and power companies. Secondly, the enforcement and monitoring weakness can be fixed by setting up an independent and suitably empowered national mining regulator. The flouting of lease conditions can be easily verified by satellite imagery, a technology now used everywhere, from the protection of mangroves to detection of illegal construction. Indeed, the regulator may be required to display all satellite imagery of mines regularly on its website, much like the Trai reports on subscriber information of telecom players. Apart from leases, mining has many other challenges, such as land acquisition and rehabilitation of displaced people. The new mining reform legislation, currently in Parliament, is an opportunity to establish a new code of conduct for mining in India.

(Source:http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/mineworms/389654/)

SC steps in to protect forests in Garo Hills

Tura, March 24, 2010: Appreciating the efforts of NGOs for relentlessly fighting against deforestation in Garo Hills and giving a boost to conservation, the Supreme Court’s Central Empowerment Committee has decided to issue an interim order prohibiting any further deforestation in the Balpakram National Park. The move comes in the wake of a petition filed in the apex court by a group of NGOs from Garo Hills who are opposing the extraction of coal and limestone deposits in the boundary of the National Park. Several companies and private individuals have been extracting minerals from the Park area for the last two years and attempts by NGOs to put a stop to it has failed to yield any result due to alleged nexus between mining companies and politicians of the State. The NGOs of South Garo Hills, spearheaded by the Southern Zone of the Garo Students Union filed the petition before the apex court to halt mining in the Gongrot Aking land area which borders the Balpakram National Park since the ecological balance of the region is under severe threat. Concern is more because the famous Simsang river which passes through the area has become polluted from coal residue, the production of the famous oranges of Siju has drastically fallen, the commonly available local fish is now under threat and tourists who visit the Park are increasingly finding it difficult to spot or hear the sound of wild animals and birds. Even the elephant corridor in the Park has been disturbed by the mining activities. The NGOs who petitioned the court include Siju Youth Socio-Cultural Organisation, Southern Youth and Cultural Organization, Siju Eco-Tourism and Conservation Society, Tura Government College Students’ Union and the Youth Development and Vigilance Committee. The counsel for the NGOs, Sanjay Upadhyay, said that “....the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), after hearing the matter of the unauthorised mining activities in Gongrot Aking area, assured that they would recommend to the Supreme Court to pass an interim order to prevent any such activity and would issue an Advisory to authorities concerned to prevent any mining in this area till the pendency of the application. It also noted that the stand of the applicant stands vindicated as it was also confirmed by the Principal Chief Conservator of forests (PCCF) of the State.”

(Source:http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=mar2510/oth07)

Supreme Court stays mining by OMC in A.P.

New Delhi, March 24, 2010: In a setback to the Reddy brothers of Karnataka, the Supreme Court on Monday stayed all further mining activities by the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) in Andhra Pradesh. A Bench consisting of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice Deepak Verma appointed an expert committee headed by the Survey of India to review the mining areas and ascertain allegations of large-scale encroachment on reserve forest areas by the powerful mining lobby. The court granted the committee two weeks to file its report, and said no further mining would be permitted at the site until further orders. The Bench issued notice to Karnataka Ministers G. Janardhan Reddy and G. Karunakara Reddy on a special leave petition filed by the Andhra Pradesh government challenging the February 26 High Court order quashing the cancellation orders passed by the State.

“Findings ignored”

Attorney-General G.E. Vahanvati said the High Court ignored the findings of the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) and the high-level inquiry committee of the State government. Both committees, after independent inquiries, concluded that the Reddy brothers had encroached on vast hectares of reserve forest areas in Andhra Pradesh. The High Court decided the matter as the case was sent back to it by the Supreme Court on January 14 with a direction to dispose it of within a month after both the OMC and the Andhra Pradesh government had given their consent. The Supreme Court felt that the High Court, which earlier gave a conditional order for the OMC to carry on mining, would be in the best position to decide the vexed issue of boundary dispute involved in the matter, and allowed all parties to make their case before the High Court.

“Pillars removed”

The Andhra Pradesh government alleged that the OMC extended the area of mining by removing pillars which formed the boundary of the area for which a lease was granted. The government issued an order prohibiting mining after the CEC had recommended stoppage of mining by the company in the area. The CEC was constituted by the Supreme Court on a writ petition by Tapal Ganesh of Bellary against the OMC over alleged illegal mining in violation of the Forest Conservation Act.

(Source:http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/24/stories/2010032467811400.htm)

Obulapuram falls silent

Anantapur, March 24, 2010: The Obulapuram Mining Corporation, owned by Karnataka Ministers G. Janardhan Reddy and G. Karunakara Reddy, has suspended mining operations and iron-ore transportation at Obulapuram in Anantapur district in the wake of the Supreme Court's Monday order, staying all mining-related work. Obulapuram in D. Hirehal Mandal, which used to bustle with machines and iron ore-laden trucks, is now silent. The area has come under the control of the security guards of the Department of Mines of the Andhra Pradesh government. Notices were formally served on OMC managing director Sreenivasula Reddy at Bellary on Tuesday to suspend all mining and transport operations at Obulapuram and surrounding villages in Andhra Pradesh. They were handed over personally by Chandra Mouli, Assistant Director of Mines, Kurnool district, who is holding the additional charge following the suspension of Sairam Singh, Assistant Director of Mines, Anantapur. Mr. Sreenivasula Reddy told The Hindu over the telephone that the OMC had suspended all mining-related works. It gave an undertaking to the Supreme Court that it would cooperate with the Survey of India in conducting a re-survey of the mining area in the wake of allegations that the OMC had violated lease norms and expanded the area beyond the lease jurisdiction.

(Source:http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/24/stories/2010032457611200.htm)

Five lakh tonnes of iron ore seized from Belekeri port

Karwar, March 24, 2010: A team of forest officials swooped down on the Belekeri port on Monday evening and seized five lakh tonnes of iron ore worth Rs. 150 crore, Forest Department sources said. Fake passes of the Forest Department were used to transport the ore from Bellary district to the Belekeri and Karwar ports. A team, led by Deputy Conservator of Forests R. Gokul, Assistant Conservator of Forests Narendra Hittalamakki and Range Forest Officer C.G. Naik conducted the raid. An FIR was filed by the team in Ankola Police Station against the Conservator of Belekeri port who refused to cooperate with the forest officials. He refused to hand over, passes, permits and other details during the raid. Last month, some Lokayukta officials, led by Uday Veer Singh, had raided the Belekeri port and seized documents from three shipping agencies. Monday's raid was a continuation of the Lokayukta raid, sources said.

Racket suspected

A forest official, on condition of anonymity, said that there was a big racket spreading from Bellary to Ankola where ore is transported using fake permits and passes of Mines and Geology and Forest departments. These passes are printed at Bellary and Ankola, he said. On Monday, when the officials raided the port and seized the ore stored in the port yard, the Conservator of Ports (CP) reportedly refused to furnish details on ore exported, cargo brought to port site and the actual permits issued by the Forest Department. The officials had sought the permission of the Government to arrest the port officials who tried to tamper with the documents and suppress information, he said. Forest officials also sought the direction of the court to restrain the port authorities from exporting the cargo seized during the raid, without permission of forest officials. Several million tonnes of the ore was extracted from the forest areas of Bellary and Hospet region and exported to China. It was brought to the port by using fake permits, an official alleged.

‘Tip of iceberg'

“We kept the news of the raid secret because powerful people are exerting pressure on us. Now we have sent the papers to the court. The Conservator of Ports is responsible for the movement of the cargo in the port area and the criminal case was filed against him and not against the handling companies. The whole racket is just a tip of an iceberg and more things are expected to come to light in future,” he said.

(Source:http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/24/stories/2010032464240800.htm)

SC order banning mining in Meghalaya lands India in diplomatic soup

New Delhi, March 24, 2010: Supreme Court's order last month turning off supply of limestone on environmental grounds from Meghalaya to French cement giant Lafarge's $255 million cement plant in Bangladesh has put India in a piquant diplomatic situation. The Sheikh Hasina regime deputed senior officials to New Delhi to seek urgent intervention of the Manmohan Singh government saying stoppage of raw material guaranteed in 2001 by India would mean a 15% fall in cement production in Bangladesh and a severe setback to its housing projects. The Nicolas Sarkozy government too activated its embassy in New Delhi to take up the issue with India, saying the French company's cement venture in Bangladesh was an important initiative to generate employment in the natural disaster ravaged country as well as to fight poverty. In this background, attorney general Goolam E Vahanvati on Tuesday made an urgent mention of the matter before a Bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices Deepak Verma and B S Chauhan. Without attempting to veil the magnitude of the diplomatic embarrassment being faced by India, the AG said SC had been misled into passing the order stopping limestone supply to the cement plant in Bangladesh "causing a huge international problem" for India. The Bench agreed to list the matter for hearing on March 26. The February 5 order stopping mining in East Khasi Hill District till further orders came with a sense of outrage from the Forest Bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices S H Kapadia and Aftab Alam, which took exception to tribal land being allegedly transferred in violation of rules to the French company's subsidiary and then mortgaged to a host of foreign banks for raising a loan of $153 million. Petitioner `Shella Action Committee' had alleged that not only was the land, falling under Schedule VI of the Constitution banning its transfer to non-tribals, illegally taken over in collusion with local officials, but mining was started without the mandatory clearance from ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) under the Forest Conservation Act (FCA). Amicus curiae Harish Salve and A D N Rao had said the eco-fragile area was opened up without the mandatory forest clearance and the raw material was being sent to Bangladesh at cost price, depriving India of huge revenue from customs and other duties. Unaware of the huge diplomatic row the government was walking into, additional solicitor general Harin Raval, who appeared for MoEF, had told the court that the ministry had clearly issued an order in May 2007 staying the mining operations, but the SC had allowed it to go on. Lafarge Umuiam Mining Pvt Ltd (LUMPL) was mining the limestone quarry area spread over 100 hectares near Indo-Bangladesh border for supply of raw material to Lafarge Surma Cement Project at Chhatak in Sunamganj, Bangladesh. Lafarge and Spanish cement producer Cementos Mollins had set up the state-of-the-art fully integrated cement plant at Chhatak with a captive power plant of 300 mw. In 2001, the Bangladesh high commissioner and then Indian foreign secretary Lalit Mansingh had signed an agreement for uninterrupted supply of raw material to the plant from the mines in Meghalaya. After this agreement, Lafarge had claimed to have obtained relevant clearances from MoEF, the state government, the autonomous hill council and the chief conservator of forest for limestone quarrying in East Khasi Hills.

(Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/SC-order-banning-mining-in-Meghalaya-lands-India-in-diplomatic-soup/articleshow/5716686.cms)

Shooting iron ore prices hastened rape of Bellary

March 24, 2010:The Supreme Court order that halts the multi-crore mining activities of the Reddy brothers along Andhra Pradesh-Karnataka border has not come a day soon. For years, all that has been evident in the chain of hillocks here are thick clouds of dust kicked up by dynamite blasts, destroying environment, killing wildlife and pauperising small farmers. The mining of manganese and iron ore in the last five decades in the reserved forest in Bellary and Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh has played havoc. What has exacerbated things is indiscriminate issuing of licenses for mining to Reddy brothers and their ilk. A rough estimate by an environment organisation here claims that about 120 hillocks, five lakh trees, 2,000 ha of forests, 10,000 acres of agriculture fields, four streams, 17 lakes and 28 ponds have been destroyed in the five decades of mining — a process that intensified in the last 12-odd years. Things peaked in 2006 when iron ore prices sky-rocketed from Rs 100 per tonne to Rs 5,000 per tonne, leading to a mad scramble among miners. "Blasting and mining have seriously damaged the ecology. The links between land, life and vegetation has broken," said S R Hiremath, an environmentalist. Bellary deputy commissioner B Shivappa admitted that mining in the forest land has alarmed everybody. "We've repeatedly written to the government for forces to stop the illegal mining, but to no avail," he said. He denied a nexus between illegal miners and district officials. Farmlands surrounding the 4500 ha of mines have been declared drought-prone. State and central government schemes promoting water conservation in the area have proved futile. "The dust from the mining dens has drastic reduced agriculture produce," said agriculture officer Raghavendra. Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha president K S Puttanniah, who has launched a campaign against indiscriminate mining, said about 80,000 tonnes of iron ore have been extracted from one region in Sandur. "Such large-scale mining hasn't occurred anywhere in the world," he said. The resentment among the local people against mining has grown stronger with each passing day. "Please get me a gun, so that I can set mother nature free of these brutal mining lords," said a local farmer Hiranna Mulimani, who is fighting with 25 like-minded people against the mafia. Nearly 35% of the population here suffers from asthma. "At least 2-3 patients come to our hospitals daily," said district health officer S S Patil. A truckload of iron ore costs around Rs 40,000 and over 5,000 trucks are transporting iron ore and other mining products daily. Major miners earn Rs 8,000 crore per year through exports, but the government gets a meagre Rs 80 crore as royalty. "You can imagine the bribe amounts," said a source. The modus operandi is simple: Dig out the minerals in unmarked areas, largely in forest lands, and get transit permit of other mining areas. These miners then sell the produce to big traders, who earn around Rs 1,800 per tonne, but pay Rs 200-300 per tonne. Ayub Khan, an activist, says, "You engage some 30 labourers and you can easily take away tonnes of iron ore. No official will ever ask you a question." No wonder, to protect their assets, the miners have posted armed men around the site to carry out the work unhindered.

(Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Shooting-iron-ore-prices-hastened-rape-of-Bellary/articleshow/5717774.cms)

Govt cornered over illegal mining

Panjim, March 23, 2010: Leader of the Opposition Manohar Parrikar once again raised the issue of illegal mining in the House today indicating that the State government is not serious enough to put an end to the illegality. Raising the issue during Question Hour as a supplementary to a question tabled by Shiroda MLA Mahadev Naik, Parrikar pointed out that government is suffering huge revenue loss due to illegal mining even as Chief Minister Digambar Kamat cited various measures initiated by his government to keep a check on illegal mining.

ROYALTY: Parrikar pointed out that there has been lapses in payment of royalties by lessees. The difference in the ore extracted and royalty paid was just half per cent in 2006-07, which rose to 8 per cent in 2007-08 and it further increased to 17 per cent in 2008-09, he said. Shiroda MLA Naik had sought to know quantities of ore extracted for 2008-09, 2009-10 and amount of royalty paid by the lessees. Parrikar said the big difference in royalty paid in relation to actual extraction of mineral ore signify that many evade payment of royalty. The value of 17 per cent royalty comes to Rs 1500 crore, he said, suggesting the government to take strict action against defaulters.

MEASURES: Kamat said that the government has set-up a cell to assess payment of royalty and that it has completed assessing 800 cases. They are close to issuing notices to the defaulters. To ensure better and faster compiling of payments made, payments of challans have been restricted to one centre in each of the district. Also, instructions have been issued asking to pay challans by 15th day of every month, Kamat said while narrating measures taken for auditing of royalty paid and determine defaulters.

CASES: Earlier, Mayem MLA Anant Shet had also posed a question about how many cases of illegal mining were detected during last one year. According to the reply given, two such cases, one in Netravali Village in Sanguem taluka and other at Ambeli village in Sattari were detected.

(Source:http://oheraldo.in/news/Local%20News/Govt-cornered-over-illegal-mining/35022.html)

Farmers, NGOs demand stop to mining in buffer zones

Margao, March 22, 2010: Farmers and non-governmental organisations on Monday have strongly demanded an immediate stop to all mining activities in the catchment areas and buffer zones. At a public meeting-cum-exhibition held at the Lohia Maidan here this evening to commemorate World Water Day, NGOs demanded that the government immediately come out with a white paper on the water resources in the state and the impact of mining, tourism industries and urbanization on the resources. While calling for the preparation of  a road map towards the restoration of water resources of the state, both surface and ground water resources, the NGOs demanded the immediate de-siltation and restoration of the natural water resources, including springs, rivers, lakes, ponds etc as part of a long-term strategy to conserve water resources. Asserting that more than 50 per cent of mining is illegal in the state, social activist Ramesh Gauns has called for a total stop on mining activity in the catchment area of Selaulim water plant, raising apprehensions that indiscriminate mining would spell doom for the water resources. “The Opa-Khandepar water reservoir is already badly affected by mining. Now, Selaulim is on the verge of heavy siltation”, Gauns said and called upon the government to serious take a look at the mining scenario. He was addressing a meeting at the Lohia Maidan held to commemorate World Water Day on Monday evening. Saying there cannot be any compromise on drinking water, Gauns said no life can exist on earth without water for drinking. Gauns said that Selaulim caters to nearly 51 per cent of the population of Goa, adding that any siltation of the catchment areas of the Selaulim irrigation project would adversely affect the drinking water supply to Salcete and other areas of South Goa. In his address, Fr Eremito Rebello said that water affects the very existence of human life and called upon Goans to come out and demand potable water free from contamination. “There cannot be any compromise on clean and pure drinking water. We all must rise and demand potable drinking water”, he added. Sidharth Karapurkar said the meeting coincided with the commencement of the awareness drive launched today to conserve and protect the water resources. He said the drive will be taken to all the villages to bring out an awareness amongst the people. President of Goenchea Xetkarancho Ekvott Dilip Hegde said the public meeting was called to commemorate World Water Day and highlight the concerns of the people on the water front. Besides GXE, NGOs including the Voice of Villagers, Verna, Colva Civic and Consume Forum and other organizations participated in the meeting.

(Source:http://oheraldo.in/news/Local%20News/Farmers-NGOs-demand-stop-to-mining-in-buffer-zones/34960.html)

SC grounds Reddys’ mining activities

New Delhi, March 23, 2010: For the second time in three months, the Supreme Court on Monday halted the multi-crore iron ore mining activity on Andhra Pradesh-Karnataka border by politically powerful Reddy brothers accused of extracting iron ore by digging beyond their lease boundaries into Bellary reserve forest. To put the matter beyond the realm of speculation -- whether or not the Reddy brothers have encroached into the reserve forest misusing their political clout in Bangalore -- the apex court set up a five-member high-level team headed by a senior officer of Survey of India to clearly demarcate the limits of the three mines belonging to the Reddys and also the other three mines functioning in the area. "The team headed by a senior officer from Dehradun office of Survey of India will also comprise of one member each from ministry of environment and forest (MoEF), AP government's revenue, forest and mines department," ordered a Bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice Deepak Verma overruling the Reddy brothers' strong objection to Survey of India being entrusted with the task of demarcation of the mine lease areas on the ground. Asking the Survey team to start its work from March 26 on the largest lease area of 68.5 hectares and submit an interim report to the court by April 9 about allegations of encroachment, the Bench said, "The respondents (Reddys) shall not do any mining operations in all lease areas till further orders." This means mining activity will come to a halt at three iron ore mines operated by Obalapuram Mining Company Pvt Ltd (OMC) and three others -- Bellary Iron Ore Pvt Ltd, YM & Sons and Anantapur Mining Corporation. The Reddys raved and ranted, accusing the AP government of having changed its colours in the past six months. They had good reason to say so. The state under Y S R Reddy had allowed them unhindered mining activity and had accepted three earlier official reports from teams that gave clean chit to them on charges of encroachment, which was mentioned by Reddy's counsel Mukul Rohatgi. Brushing aside the Reddys' complaint about the unfair stand being taken by the state government, attorney general G E Vahanvati based his arguments on the damning report given by the apex court-appointed central empowered committee (CEC) and faulted the Andhra HC's judgment quashing the government decision to ban mining. Accusing the Reddys' of proceeding at breakneck speed after the February 26 HC judgment 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. The CEC report was forthright and said the state government had previously turned a blind eye to the largescale illegalities and encroachment by Reddy brothers "ostensibly because of the business partnership of OMC managing director Janardan Reddy, a cabinet minister in Karnataka, with the son of former AP chief minister Y S R Reddy". Acting on the CEC report, the SC had on December 17 stayed mining activity of Reddy brothers and had asked the HC to examine the controversy. The stay order operated till February 26, when the HC quashed the December 7 order of the state government banning the mining activity.

(Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/SC-grounds-Reddys-mining-activities/articleshow/5712874.cms)

Jairam’s green nod gets harder to come

New Delhi, March 21, 2010:  Environmental clearances for big industrial projects may no longer be as easy as before. In the wake of the Copenhagen summit and the widening global debate on carbon emissions and global warming, India’s environment minister, Jairam Ramesh, has told his officials to put these projects through a tough scrutiny, instead of issuing blanket no-objection certificates. The results are already evident. Sterlite’s Vedanta Aluminium is just one of 120 industrial and mining projects hanging fire for want of environmental clearance. While steel majors like Posco and ArcelorMittal have finally managed to get their clearances after years of lobbying and resultant media glare, there are many others who are still facing the environmental stonewall. Among them are Relia-nce’s petrochemical project, Larsen & Tubro’s industrial estates and mining projects of Jindal Steel, JP Associates, Gra-sim Industries and Tata Chemicals. Among top public sector undertakings whose projects too are stuck are SAIL and NTPC. Their applications have been pending since April last year or before. Environmentalist lawyer Sanjay Parikh supports the ministry’s toughness. “Environmental clearance has become a bit of a joke with as many as 100 projects being cleared in a day. Now for the first time, environment clearance is not in the hands of lobbies -- from the steel or the mining sectors,” he says. To buttress his point, Parikh says that between September 2006 and September 2008, every industrial project for which approval was sought was cleared: 952 industries approved, none rejected. In this period, 134 thermal power plants faced no environmental hiccups, though it is well-established that such carbon-intensive plants contribute significantly to global warming. Even an influential group such as Reliance has been made to wait. Its proposal for a petrochemical project at Jamnagar in Gujarat was first made in July 2008, put up for consideration around June 2009; then again in August (but the meeting was not held), and yet again in October; this meeting only deferred the proposal. Another meeting in November did not reach any decision for want of further information. Jindal Steel and Power’s 11 million-tonne integrated mining project and a 2,600 mw captive power plant with a total investment of Rs 30,000 crore in Jharkhand were first taken up in March 2009. Based on additional information, it was taken up again in July. A third meeting in August deferred the decision and kept it open ended. Ditto with HPCL’s diesel hydro-treating facility in Mumbai, which was first considered in May 2009. Additional information was sought and the proposal reconsidered in July before being consigned to the files. Affected companies are hesitant to give details. Says an HPCL official, “The projects that require environment clearance are sent for approval to the government and each project requires different lengths of time to get the clearance. Every project has different levels of clearance based on statutory norms. We cannot divulge details on our proposed projects.” However, the company is looking at investing over Rs 20,000 crore in a greenfield project in Raigad or Ratnagiri in Maharashtra in the face of its inability to expand its Mumbai plant. “In view of the constraints in the expansion of the Mumbai refinery, we plan to build one close by,” said an official. None of NTPC’s captive coal blocks in Jharkhand have received the environmental clearance. This will impact the company’s efforts at securing coal supplies, according to a senior official of the Central Electricity Authority. Some SAIL projects too, like the underground coal mine project at Sitnala in Bokaro in Jharkhand, are held up. Says a SAIL spokesman, “Environmental clearance for Sitanala is in progress. He says that after the approval of the terms of reference by the ministry, an environmental impact assessment report and an environmental management plan have been prepared. Also, public hearing (a prerequisite for environmental clearance) was successfully held in January 2010. The ministry now awaits recommendations of the state government. It will then be considered by the expert appraisal committee. Are environmental procedures taking too long? According to an official of the ministry, who prefers anonymity, the rules have been tightened since Jairam Ramesh became minister. In recent meetings the minister made it clear that clearances should not be given in a hurry. A more recent case hitting the headlines is Vedanta. Despite being granted clearances by Orissa’s environment department, Ramesh’s ministry has taken a contrarian view. A committee set up by his ministry has indicted Orissa Mining Corporation and Vedanta for infringing the rights of the tribal population of Lanjigarh where its bauxite mining project is coming up. The report also said the promoters of the project had violated the Forest Rights Act and started work without obtaining necessary government clearances. “When land was acquired for the project, the villagers were promised jobs. Now these people have not only lost their land but have no access to jobs. To add to their woes, they are constantly exposed to pollutants,” Usha Ramanathan, a legal expert at the Centre for Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), who headed the three-member ministry probe, said in the report submitted to the ministry. Ramesh told reporters last week that according to law, the company should have obtained clearances to work both in the forest and non-forest areas. However, it started work in the non-forest areas though it did not have the necessary sanctions. Ramanathan’s report, prepared following a site inspection, gives details of the impact of the project on the livelihood and deteriorating health of the tribal population — and the increasing pollution they are exposed to. “This is a disturbing state of affairs and needs to be checked if the neutrality of the state is to be maintained,” she concluded in her 37-page report.

(Source:http://www.mydigitalfc.com/economy/jairam%E2%80%99s-green-nod-gets-harder-come-312)

PM sore over illegal mining in Karnataka

New Delhi, March 20, 2010: Concerned over rampant illegal mining in Karnataka, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked his principal secretary to take necessary steps to prevent it, Union Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh said here.

“The PM has expressed his concern regarding illegal mining in Karnataka during a meeting of National Board for Wildlife held on Thursday”, Ramesh told newsmen on Saturday. “My ministry would take all legal steps to stop illegal mining iron ore and bauxite mining in Karnataka”, said Jairam. It was learnt that in the meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, some members raised the issue of unbridled illegal mining in Karnataka and the state  government’s recent decision of allowing mining in Western Ghat areas. Reacting to this, the PM said the issue was also brought to his knowledge and he was equally concerned about this development. “During discussion, the PM also directed his principal secretary to take necessary steps to prevent plundering of national wealth”, sources said. It may be noted that the Centre had received a number of complaints about widespread illegal mining in Karnataka, particularly in Bellary district. A task force constituted by the Union Ministry of Mines comprising officials of Indian Bureau of Mines has also found that eight mining companies have indulged in illegal mining in Bellary district and recommended the State Government to suspend of mining licenses of six companies. The Karnataka Government’s latest cabinet decision of dereserve forest areas in Bellary district and some parts of Western Ghats for mining purpose, has received flak from the Centre. Ramesh has already expressed his concern over the decision and announced to send a high-level official team to study about the diversion of forest for non-forestry activities.

(Source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/59165/pm-sore-over-illegal-mining.html)

Lafarge denies mining violation in Meghalaya

Shillong, March 20, 2010: Lafarge Umiam Mining (LUM), a subsidiary of the French cement giant, has rubbished allegations of violating Supreme Court order on mining activities in Meghalaya. Shella Action Committee (SAC) was seeking justice from the apex court against Lafarge’s ‘’violation of the Constitutional provision’’ against transfer over of tribal land in Meghalaya. According to a report in UNI, the committee alleged that quarries operated by Lafarge would have long-term implications on the people of Meghalaya in having control over indigenous lands and using of sustainable resources. LUM is to mine and supply limestone for its 250 million dollar cement plant at its Surma Cement at Chhatak in Bangladesh, located just ten km away from the quarries across the Indo-Bangla border. The minerals are sent through a 17 km-long unique cross-border mine to plant conveyor belt. In an e-mailed statement issued here, Lafarge said, ‘’There is nothing new in the allegations made by the SAC which is an unconnected breakaway group of Shella Village Durbar.’’ It added that the company had always followed the environmental and legal compliances. “We are strictly adhering to the Supreme Court’s decision and we have immediately stopped its mining operations in the area,’’ the statement added. The cement giant also denied the allegations of the organisation that the company had obtained environmental clearance by falsely showing thick forest land as wasteland. ‘’Similar allegations were made by the SAC in a case filed in Gauhati High Court. It was examined by the government and found to be false and baseless, and accordingly the government filed an affidavit in the High Court to the same effect,’’ the statement said. On February last, the Supreme Court had stayed Lafarge’s mining activities in the area after the Committee had filed an application in the court.

(Source:http://www.nagalandpost.com/ShowStory.aspx?npoststoryiden=UzEwMjM4MDU%3D-Ddn6ftf1WTc%3D)

Govt signs MoU with Amtek for auto park

Bhubaneswar, March 20, 2010: The State Government today signed an MoU with the Amtek Metal and Mining Limited to set up a mega auto park with associated two million tonne per annum integrated steel plant and 500 MW power plant at Tangi in Cuttack district. The most important aspect of the project is the hot metal transfer from blast furnace to auto park for the production of auto components. The park will consist of ferrous foundry, steel forging plant, steel fabrication plant, open die forging plant, special fasteners, aluminium die casting plant, alloy steel plant and ring gear blank plant. The project when completed will create direct and indirect employment opportunities for 33,000 people. While 11,000 people will be appointed in various plants in the park, indirect employment opportunities will be created for 22,000 more.  The cost of the project has been estimated at Rs 15,820 crore out of which Rs 2,050 crore will be for mega auto park with the hot metal transfer technology in two phases. The project will be spread over an area of 2,500 acres of land out of which 550 acres will be for mega auto park. Amtek with its existing relationships in the auto industry and the State Government through its various initiatives will invite other major domestic and global auto players to participate in the growth of Orissa to create a stimulus for auto industry in the State. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said that the proposed auto park will help generate new areas of growth in the State while providing local skilled youth an opportunity for employment. With the signing of the MoU the State Government expects greater investment from the national auto industry to create an auto hub in Orissa. Naveen said that the availability of raw materials, adequate trained manpower, a facilitating investment environment and good logistics will help in the development of an auto hub in the State. Besides, Amtek has also committed to start adequate training facilities within the State apart from utilising their existing training centres in various parts of the country, he said. Amtek is a global auto component supplier with 32 manufacturing facilities across the globe. The flagship company Amtek Auto Limited was incorporated in 1985 as a supplier to Maruti Suzuki India. Industries Secretary Sourabh Garg and Managing Director of Amtek Metal and Mining Limited Nanda Kishore Taori signed the MoU. Besides, Industries Minister Raghunath Mohanty, Chief Secretary TK Mishra and senior officials were present.

(Source:http://www.expressbuzz.com)

Geologists discovers diamond, platinum and gold reserve in Bundelkhand

Lucknow, March 20, 2010: Uttar Pradesh has struck riches in the rugged badlands of Bundelkhand. Geologists have found mines of diamond, platinum and gold raising hopes that the region could one day turn into the proverbial El Dorado thereby alleviate the plight of the locals ravaged by drought for years. The UP government has entered into a contract with a Canadian company, MaxTech Resources, that would assess the quality of gold found in the south-west region of Lalitpur. The research would also focus on the financial viability of this gold. “The Bundelkhand region has struck gold for us. We have found precious metals like platinum and even diamonds in Lalitpur, Jhansi and Banda districts making it one of the most precious findings for us,” Secretary, Department of Mining, SK Verma told The Pioneer on Friday. Gold was earlier found in Sone Bhadra region but its exploration was not seemed to be economically viable. But in Lalitpur, gold found in three villages of Girar, Khutgaon and Tori were not deep seated but superficial and hence its exploration should not be a difficult job. Senior Geologist and Advisor to the Government of UP, SA Farooqui said that the stretch of the gold is well defined and it ranges between 3.5 km in length and 700 meter width. In an international meet of Prospective Developers Annual Conference (PDAC) held in Toronto between March 4 and 12 this year, UP presented its findings. “Even international experts hoped that we would be able to hit a gold mine,” Farooqui said.The Canadian firm would invest Rs 75 crore and is expected to give its report within 2-3 years time. Based in this report, the UP government could go ahead in exploration of gold. Besides, the discovery of Platinum has come as a double whammy for the Mining Department. Platinum was found in Ikauna, Dangli, Rangaon and Madaura areas, roughly 72 kms south-west of Lalitpur. The mineralised rocks in the area extend over a strike length of 1.5 km with a varying width of 20 to 160 meter on the surface. Farooqui said the Platinum found in UP was of the best quality and its density was a healthy 3.5 to 10.5 gm / tonne as against the national average of 0.3 gm / tonne.

 Besides, the department could lay its hands on three diamonds from the the gravel bed of Baghain river of Kalinger area in Banda and the grains were of 0.44, 0.11 and 0.324 carats respectively. This news could augur well for the drought-ravaged impoverished Bundelkhand region, comprising seven districts, where people migrate to bigger cities for eking out a living. Of late, the area has suddenly become important, with the Congress and BSP pushing hard to outsmart each other vis a vis showing concern for the locals.

(Source:http://www.dailypioneer.com/243281/Geologists-discovers-diamond-platinum-and-gold-reserve-in-Bundelkhand.html)

Mining report misleading’

Shillong, March 20, 2010: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) termed the ‘conditional go ahead’ given by the Committee on Welfare of ST, SC and OBC of Meghalaya to uranium mining as a ‘wrong report’. The KSU, spearheading a protest against the proposed uranium mining, said, "The Committee has misled the House by giving wrong reports about the adverse effects of uranium mining." "Such false reports should have been thrown in the dustbin as there is no truth about the effects of the uranium mining," KSU general secretary Hamlet Dohling said.  Castigating the Committee's report saying organizations had been propagating false information about uranium mining, the KSU leader said, "We are informing the people about the adverse effect of mining as we have seen that the radiation affects the health of the people." According to the KSU, the Committee which has been formed for welfare of the tribals should take stock of the condition of the poor people living in rural areas. Maintaining their tough stand on the proposed uranium mining, the KSU leader said they would not change their stand as the "mining will affect the health of the indigenous people besides affecting the environment".  The KSU also reiterated that it would not participate in any meeting of the Joint Committee on Uranium Mining (JCUM) until and unless the Government drops AMDA, a pro-mining group from the Committee.  Earlier, the KSU and the CCSO, another conglomerate of anti-mining groups, had boycotted the first meeting of the Committee after the State Government inducted AMDA in the JCUM.

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

ArcelorMittal set to relocate Rs 50,000-cr project to Bokaro

New Delhi, March 19, 2010: Move proposed on account of land acquisition problems

Disappointed over delays in the launch of its Rs 50,000-crore steel project in Jharkhand, global steel giant ArcelorMittal is set to relocate its plant proposed in Khunti-Gumla to Bokaro district in the state, mainly on account of land acquisition problems. The world's largest steel maker had entered into a pact with the Jharkhand government for setting up a 12 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) steel plant in 2005 but has been facing delays in land acquisition, amid regulatory hurdles. "ArcelorMittal has informed us that they want to shift to Petarwar (Bokaro) and need about 2,000 acres for the first phase of their project. They said the response from Petarwar was positive," Jharkhand Mines and Industries Secretary N N Sinha said. The state government will provide all cooperation to the company, he said adding that they have requested the government for about 50 million cubic metres of water from the Tenughat dam to cater to the requirements of the proposed plant, which will see output of three MTPA capacity in the first phase. Protests by villagers at the proposed Khunti-Gumla site had forced the company to scout for other places, while negotiations with Petarwar villagers are still going on to acquire land. The entire project requires around 8,000 acres. ArcelorMittal’s spokesperson could not contacted for comments. NRI billionaire L N Mittal, who heads the steel giant, had last month said the company is “anxious” to start work on its proposed greenfield projects in India, which entail an estimated investment of Rs 1.30 lakh crore. The company had planned to set up three steel projects in the country - two in Jharkhand and one in Orissa, with an annual production capacity of 12 million tonnes each. But, they have been facing regulatory hurdles and problems in acquiring land for four years. ArcelorMittal has also proposed a Rs 30,000-crore project in Karnataka for setting up a 6-MTPA plant. Peeved by inordinate delays in starting work on its integrated steel projects, the metal behemoth marked its first operational presence in the country by recently entering into a joint venture with domestic steelmaker Uttam Galva. Mittal had criticised the country's investment climate in January this year and rued the inordinate delays in his proposed projects in Jharkhand and Orissa.

(Source:http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/arcelormittal-set-to-relocate-rs-50000-cr-project-to-bokaro/389085/)

Panel gives ‘conditional’ nod to uranium project

Shillong, March 19, 2010: A Meghalaya Assembly panel today recommended that the government take up a uranium mining project in West Khasi Hills district without further delay but subject to some conditions. The 10-member committee, headed by Congress legislator HDR Lyngdoh, made the suggestion regarding the Kylleng Pyndengsohiong Mawthabah uranium mining project in its report tabled in the State Assembly. Lyngdoh heads the Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Tribe/Castes and Other Backward Classes in the Meghalaya Assembly. The panel, which visited several uranium mining sites at Jadugoda in Jharkhand and the Uranium Corporation of India Ltd (UCIL) units, found that miners who had worked in uranium sites and processing plants for 30-35 years had suffered no radiation effects. The members visited the proposed Kylleng Pyndengsohiong Mawthabah (KPM) uranium mining site in West Khasi Hills. However, the committee recommended that the government set up a dedicated health service unit and environmental survey laboratory by UCIL to monitor the workplace and environment at the mining site. The unit should be independent of administrative control of UCIL so that proper reports are available, it said. It also wanted UCIL to hold medical camps in surrounding villages at least once in a week to provide free medical check-ups and medicines. UCIL should also provide assistance in literacy and education programmes to the locals. The UCIL had proposed to invest Rs 209 crore to undertake pre-developmental project activities to build schools, hospitals, roads and other infrastructure at the site. However, anti-mining groups are opposing the project, fearing health and environment hazards. The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has given clearance to UCIL to start mining in the State, triggering strong protests from parties and NGOs. The UCIL plans to produce 375,000 tonnes of uranium ore a year and process 1,500 tonnes a day. It has also proposed to set up a Rs.1,046-crore open-cast uranium mining and processing plant in Meghalaya. The state is estimated to have 9.22 million tonnes of uranium ore deposits. IANS

(Source:http://www.sentinelassam.com/meghalaya/story.php?sec=2&subsec=8&id=31134&dtP=2010-03-20&ppr=1#31134)

Deo opposes bauxite mining

Paderu, March 19, 2010: Senior Congress MP from Araku, Mr Y. Kishorechandra Suryanarayana Deo said he would not allow bauxite mining in the Agency, the issue which was now embroiled into a controversy with Left and Telugu Desam strongly opposing it. Talking to reporters, during his visit, here on Friday, the second after the election, Mr Deo said there was no need to take up mining here when the local tribals were opposing it and it could affect the environment. “I have also asked the Union minister for forests and environment, Mr Jairam Ramesh, to withdraw the proposals,” Mr Deo said. The copy of his letter to Mr Ramesh was also sown to the media personnel. Araku Valley has a huge potential for developing as a major tourist centre and the natural beauty of the valley would be lost if mining was taken up. The mining would also do a great deal of harm to the tribals who have been living here since ages and still depending on it for eking out a living. The MP also said that he would write letters to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson, Ms Sonia Gandhi, and the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, to withdraw the proposals to mine bauxite in the Agency. Asked about the agreement signed between the State government and the MNC for setting up alumina processing plants and the government proposals for mining, the MP categorically said he was in no way connected to the agreements or the proposals for mining. He exuded confidence that the State government would drop the proposals for mining.

(Source:http://www.deccanchronicle.com/visakhapatnam/deo-opposes-bauxite-mining-424)

Amendments to Mining Act endorsed

Bhopal, March 19, 2010: A cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan endorsed the proposed amendments to Madhya Pradesh Gaun Khanij Niyam 1996. The Cabinet also endorsed the proposed amendments to Madhya Pradesh Khanij (Awaidh Khanan, Pariwahan Tatha Bhandaran ka Niwaran) Niyam 2006. The Cabinet endorsed the order given by the Chief Minister for extending the term of Industry Augmentation Policy 2004 till June 30, 2010. The Cabinet gave administrative sanction to implement Border Check-post Scheme with PPP mode at a cost of Rs 1150 crore. Consent was accorded for appointing Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation as the implementation agency for this scheme and recovering the fees to be given to it from the concessioner. The Cabinet endorsed the concession agreement prepared for the project and authorised the implementing agency to take appropriate decisions on the suggestions received at the pre-bid meeting. The cabinet endorsed the concession agreement provisions under which all the concerning departments will have to close down their existing check-posts and establish them at the new project venues. The cabinet gave consent to provision of 5000 square feet venue at Gwalior and Indore for land acquisition for project implementation. Consent was also given for imposing proposed service fees for project implementation. The cabinet decided to allow the units getting land allotment in Gwalior Stone Park the facility to pay the premium of land in instalments to Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. According to it, 40 per cent amount of the premium will be paid at the time of allotment and 60 per cent amount will be paid in three equal annual instalments.  Penalty interest will be imposed in case instalments are not deposited within stipulated date and land allotment can also be cancelled by construing this as a violation of lease deed conditions. The Cabinet sanctioned concession of one year in the five-year period required for promotion from assistant mining officer to mining officer. The Cabinet agreed in principle about various activities being undertaken for feeder separation in rural areas for supplying power to irrigation pumps and domestic consumers. The Cabinet gave its consent for formulating Nagar Palika Vidhi (Sanshodhan) Vidheyak 2010 and Madhya Pradesh Kirayedari Vidheyak 2010 to replace Madhya Pradesh Sthan Niyantran Adhiniyam 1961. The Cabinet endorsed the decision to grant permission to Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Company to secure short-term loan of Rs 73 crore from Syndicate Bank for importing 1.5 tonnes of coal.

(Source:http://centralchronicle.com/viewnews.asp?articleID=30083)

Kongan’s perilous coal mining banned

Dimapur, March 19 (MExN): The reality of the primitive, dangerous and hazardous coal mining ‘production’ in Mon district  once again surfaced with a village in Mon clamping a ban on all coal-mining activities in its areas today.  Kongan village under Mon district has banned all mining-activities within its land, citing issues of illegal licenses, “unsystematic” extraction and the hazards of pollution  on the local population.     The reasons are one too many according to the village community’s general secretary Phuhton Konyak. Illegal licenses are being issued to vested individuals; the unscientific mining activities are causing environmental hazards “followed by natural disaster.” The general secretary said the ban was necessitated by pressing issues related to coal mining in the village’s land holdings. The Kongan citizens have met and deliberations have been held “on the conflict zone of the present environment due to illegal/unsystematic extraction/operation of the coal mining within the Kongan land,” the village said today. The ban ‘order’ appended by the village’s leaders referred to a notification issued by Kongan Village Council on August 3, 2009. “We on behalf of the Kongan citizen inform all the general public of Nagaland in general and Konyak community in particular, that the extraction of coal mining within Kongan village jurisdiction has been banned with effect from 30th June 2010,” stated the village’s communiqué issued today. The communiqué was appended by the community’s president Yanang Konyak, vice president Nyakpa Konyak, general secretary Phuhton Konyak and assistant general secretary Chingpai Konyak. What the village’s community leaders explained was that “if this extraction is continued, it will effect the environment followed by natural disaster. Therefore, it is not feasible to extract coal mining without taking the preventive measures as per scientific methodology.” Phuhton Konyak said over phone tonight that the unscientific coal mining activities are burdening the village with pollution in the village and the unhealthy trend could lead to severer consequences. The general secretary said that the matter has come to such head that ban was necessitated. The ban is understood to be temporary though. ‘It is to take further steps,” he said, implying that more decisions related to Kongan’s coal mining would be taken. Another reason that the village leader cited was whether or not coal mining production would be handed over to private companies rather then let it remain under the Nagaland Geology & Mining department. Konyak implied that the development of the village’s welfare could hinge on economic benefits from coal mining. It was alleged that mining ‘illegal’ permits are being issued to private individuals while the village remains without ‘facilities.’The village has warned “whoever or whatsoever,” individual or parties will be held accountable “on their own risk.” The village also asked the department of Geology & Mining not to issue any “challan” or “whatsoever permit” to the individuals or party concerned with effect from June 30, 2010. The Parliamentary Secretary, Commissioner & Secretary and the Director of Geology & Mining, Deputy Commissioner of Mon and the ADC of Naginimora and the Coal Contractors’ Union of Naginimora are requested to comply with the ban. Earlier, the department of Geology & Mining had brought unregulated coal mining activities under its control under the Nagaland Coal Mining Rules, 2006. Large-scale unregulated coal mining was reported to be going on in parts of Mon, Mokokchung, Longleng and Wokha districts.

(Source:http://www.morungexpress.com/frontpage/45457.html)

Panel allays uranium fear

Shillong, March 19: A Meghalaya Legislative Assembly committee comprising a select group of legislators that visited the uranium mining sites in the state and elsewhere in the country observed that there would not be any health hazards if mining was carried out in Meghalaya. The report of the committee on the welfare of Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes on “uranium mining processing plants and mining project” tabled today in the Assembly said the committee did not find any danger from mining and processing of uranium in Meghalaya. The committee on a fact-finding mission conducted field visits in December to the uranium mining sites at Mawthabah in West Khasi Hills, Uranium Corporation of India Ltd (UCIL) units at Jaduguda, atomic energy units in Hyderabad and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai.The report said radiation had no effect on many labourers who had worked at the uranium mining sites and processing plants elsewhere in the country for more than 30 to 35 years . It recommended that the UCIL should set up a dedicated health physics unit and environmental safety laboratory to monitor the workplace and the environment at the sites. “This unit should be independent of the administrative control of the UCIL so that proper reports will be available,” the report said. Senior specialist, Civil Hospital, Shillong, R. Nongrum, who accompanied the delegation, in his report said the general health aspect of the staff working at the processing units, reactors, mines and mills was good and their family did not show any health complications.The mining officer, directorate of mineral resources, Meghalaya, A.R. Thabah, said the UCIL had assured that no discernible impact on the environment in the public domain would take place from any of its operations in Meghalaya. The committee urged the government to start uranium mining in the West Khasi Hills at the earliest.The Meghalaya government has earlier notified a 33-member joint committee on uranium mining. The committee comprised NGOs, ministers and experts to examine the issues related to health, environment and public safety before carrying out the actual mining in West Khasi Hills.On March 2, the first meeting of the joint committee on uranium mining was boycotted by groups opposing the quarrying of the radioactive mineral in Meghalaya.The boycott by Khasi Students Union and the Co-ordination Committee of Social Organisations was prompted by the inclusion of a pro-mining group, the Associations of Meghalaya for Development and Advancement in the joint committee.

(Source:http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100320/jsp/northeast/story_12236767.jsp)

Red dust brings early death to West Singbhum

Gua (Jharkhand), March 18, 2010: Ten-year-old Nandi’s skin and hair have a reddish-black hue. She has poor vision. And her skin is peeling off below her knees. Nandi, an orphan girl child, collects iron ore dust droppings from trucks that transport the ore from this area in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district, 160 km south west of Ranchi.  Prolonged exposure to this red dust has given her siderosis, a disease that damages the elasticity of the lungs. There are thousands of people — young and old — like Nandi in this backward area where the only industry is mining and allied activities. All of them suffer from similar symptoms. And all of them work for the crusher units — mostly illegal outfits — that operate in the area. The local doctor has recommended that Nandi, who earns Rs 1,000 a month, go for a lung function test immediately. But her aunt, Shitalmar Hessa, told Hindustan Times: “We cannot afford the tests and the treatment.” The test at a private lab costs Rs 2,000 to 4,000. “Most labourers lead a hand-to-mouth existence and fighting hunger is their biggest priority. Diseases and changes in skin tone are insignificant issues for them,” said Nazir Khan, a local Congress leader fighting the politically influential companies that run the mines and crusher units.  But these are just visible manifestations of a deeper problem. “Labourers exposed to this red dust are sure to die early,” said Dr P.K. Mohanty, a specialist in dust-related ailments, who works among the poor in the area. Workers in this region have a life span of only 40-45 years, added Khan.  Reacting to a pointed query on the issue, Jharkhand Deputy Chief Minister Raghuvar Das said: “I have come to know that there are some pollution-related problems in the iron ore belt. I am going to instruct the district authorities to send us a report. The government will certainly act against the culprits.” Local officials said the government has no statistics or information on the problem. But Dr P.K. Gangopadhyay, chief of the Regional Institute of Occupational Health, a government of India body that functions under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), alleged that the Jharkhand government did not document the victims to avoid paying compensation. Ashok Verma, general manager of Steel Authority of India, which has mines in the area, said the illegal crusher units are playing havoc with the environment.  “Some privately-owned smaller mines and crusher units operating in residential areas are putting people's lives at risk.” There are 41 mines and more than 200 legally and illegally run crusher units in this iron ore mining hub spread over southwest Jharkhand to south-eastern Orissa, employing youngsters on contract.  The labourers work without safety equipment like nasal masks, earplugs and helmets, which are mandatory under Central Pollution Control Board.

(Source:http://www.hindustantimes.com/Red-dust-brings-early-death-to-West-Singbhum/H1-Article1-520305.aspx)

Strangling the goose that lays golden eggs

Thiruvananthapuram, March 18, 2010: The black clams of the Vembanad wetland have a history of supporting a number of industries in the state, including Travancore Cements Ltd (TCL), Travancore Electrochemicals and Pallathra Bricks and Tiles Ltd. For the very same reason, these live organisms - villorita cyprinoides var cochinensis - got labelled as a mineral resource, requiring fishermen to get a licence from the Mining & Geology Department to collect them. While fishermen largely take only such quantities of clam from the lake that they need, the industries use huge dredgers and completely mine out the fossilized white shell deposits. They are only c o n c e r n e d about short - term benefits. Even the expert committee that looked into the impact of mechanised dredging seemed to be more on a diplomatic mission rather than a fact-finding one. “We don’t want TCL shut down. We want it to switch to a more sustainable resource-utilisation model, such as a transition to raw materials comprising a mixture of limestone and shells, devoid of meat or gypsum. It can also diversify into pharma products as the shells are excellent sources of calcium, or into cosmetics such as face cream and tooth paste,” says Anti-dredging Agitation Committee member Binu. The equally myopic vision of other companies, which see wetlands as wastelands, has reduced the 36,500-hectare wetland to just 12,700 hectares. And, the destruction need not always end with reclamation. At Cherthala, a beverages company has been spewing untreated effluents into Puthiya Thodu and Vembanad, spreading a number of diseases among the people living nearby. In Kochi, the ongoing reclamation activities for mega-projects like the Hi-tech City, the Vallarpadom container terminal, Kochi Marina and the LNG terminal will further shrink the lake. Proponents of the Hi-tech City on the Valanthakkad island say only 20 per cent of the construction would be carried out on the island. “That is what they say all the time. They will first construct a road, widen it and then reclaim the land on both sides, completely destroying the fragile ecosystem,” says Sahajan of Valanthakkad. If it is the mega industrial projects which exert pressure on the wetland in Kochi, in Alappuzha and Kuttanad it is the real estate mafia. One frequently sees ‘for sale’ boards on the paddyfields in Kuttanad, especially near the Alappuzha-Changanassery road. “Some people refuse to grow paddy purposely, they don’t even give it on lease, so that after a few years it becomes fallow land,” notes Kuttanad Vikasana Samithy executive director Fr Thomas Peelianickal. According to certain projections, at the current rate of reclamation, this wetland of international importance may vanish in just 50 years. As of now, the Vembanad wetland is the proverbial goose that lays golden eggs for the flourishing tourism sector. It is more than two decades since it all began, yet there is yet to be a serious move to assess the carrying capacity of the lake, the environmental impact of waste discharge, the effects of oil spills from houseboats and of reclamation. But thankfully, the perpetual conflict between development and environment has reached a consensus at certain resorts at Kumarakom and Mararikkulam, where wetlands are so beautifully conserved that they have become examples of responsible tourism. With absolutely zero reclamation, these resorts have natural canals, marshes, paddyfields and even prawn and fish farms right on their premises. They use water from the lake and use them after treatment. They do not discharge waste outside the resort. There the houseboats, the emerald- green paddyfields, the cackle of migratory birds, the buzz of dragonflies, the serene backwaters and even the karimeen (pearl spot) to charm tourists from across the globe. Not too late, at least one industry in the region has started realising that without conserving the environment, without the paddyfields and without the birds and bees, there will be no tourism. And without the goose, there will be no eggs.

(Source:http://www.expressbuzz.com)

Orissa bats for Vedanta even as govt panel finds violations

New Delhi, March 18, 2010: Orissa government has come out in favour of the controversial Vedanta group with the BJD government in the state opposing the views of a central committee that bauxite mining in Lanjigarh were being carried out in violation of SC orders, the Forest Rights Act and the Forest Conservation Act. But with central government mandated to enforce these legislations, the environment ministry has decided to pursue the case on basis of its committee’s report and not the state government’s representations, sources told TOI. The Orissa government on March 11 wrote two letters to the Centre claiming that as per its assessment, the rights of tribals had been settled under the Forest Rights Act and that no violations of Forest Conservation Act had been found. Sterlite Industries Limited, which was allowed by the Supreme Court to start an aluminium refinery in place of Vedanta Aluminium Limited (both founded by Anil Agarwal), had earlier written to the Centre opposing the terms and composition of the committee. But the environment ministry backed the independent member of the three-member panel, Usha Ramanathan, who had came under attack from Sterlite. While the two forest officials on the committee reported on infringements of forest laws as well as possible impact on wildlife of the mining to be carried out by Orissa Mining Corporation to provide bauxite to the Sterlite refinery, Ramanathan studied the impact on primitive tribal groups in the region and other people. She also dwelt on infringement of SC orders as well as issues of displacement and dislocation. Ramanathan’s report was scathing on several counts while the forest officials too pointed out violations. The panel’s report was considered by the Forest Advisory Committee of the environment ministry. While the final minutes of the meeting are yet to be written, sources said FAC had accepted the report and advised the government to act on the evidence provided by the report. Ministry sources said Orissa government’s defence of Vedanta, Sterlite and OMC in the face of the report had led to an awkward situation but the environment ministry would pursue action based on its report and not the state’s representations. The ministry was also contemplating referring the issues pertaining to tribal rights and infringement of Forest Rights Act to the Union ministry of tribal affairs, sources said.

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

Mining mafia fires during surprise check

Greater Noida, March 18, 2010: Officials of the special mining squad, including a sub-divisional magistrate and a deputy superintendent of police, had a narrow escape when the mining mafia opened fire at them during a surprise check in Maujabad area of Greater Noida. However, no one was injured as they managed to flee.     Police immediately sprung into action and arrested 12 accused from Mungabad area in Greater Noida. However, two of their accomplices are still on the run and police hope to nab them soon. ‘‘The accused are members of Naresh Bhati gang. We have recovered one JCB, four dumpers and other machinery and a Ford Fiesta from Kasna area,’’ said S K Verma, SP (rural Noida). ‘‘When I along with DSP Shailendra Lal reached the area on a surprise check we were fired upon,’’ claimed Vishal Singh, SDM of the area. ‘‘In March, illegal mining of sand from the Yamuna takes place in the area. This is the first time that we decided to track the mafia in Greater Noida. Hence, a special team was formed to check the mining mafia,’’ said Verma. According to Greater Noida authority, there are a number of mining gangs active in the area. ‘‘March is the season when organized mining is stopped in Greater Noida. This is when illegal mining takes place on the Yamuna bed for its sand,’’ said an official. He added that all these groups owe allegiance to bigger gangs operating from Faridabad. ‘‘The Greater Noida route is used by gangs to transport sand to other parts of UP and NCR,’’ added the officer.

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

Mining mafia builds a sandy grave

Delhi, March 17, 2010:Just 22km upstream from the Okhla barrage, the Yamuna is a different river. Upstream of Wazirabad in the north, it is a big, healthy river in which fish swim and to which birds come for water. Over the next 22km, it gets reduced to a giant sewer because of a number of reasons, the biggest being the city puking out tones of its refuse into the river. We, however, look at a different aspect here — an aspect often overlooked in endless (and often insincere) debates on saving the Yamuna. It is pillage of the river sands, often so rapacious that the deep channels caused by mechanized illegal mining are leading to the Yamuna changing its course at certain places. If the process goes unchecked, the river might shift eastwards, triggering a disaster. Just before the river reaches Wazirabad, at Palla village, where mining is rampant, the river has shifted, inundating land that was earlier being used for farming. This is well known and acknowledged by authorities on both side of the river, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. But neither take action under the garb of jurisdiction issues. Activists say it’s not just petty matters of jurisdiction, but the fact that illegal sand mining is today a multi-crore business that has led to official inaction. The sand mafia carts away truckloads of sand daily that are sold to the construction companies. And it all happens in front of everyone’s eyes. Huge machines are stationed at the edge of the river to dig out sand not only from the banks but also from within the river. In the Palla area, a temporary bank was recently created in the middle of the Yamuna to trap sand, effectively shifting its flow more towards the Delhi border and creating a small sand island in the middle of the river. Why the officials still don’t act, and why no one at the top does not step up to settle disputes of jurisdiction, if any, is a mystery. Just how ridiculous the situation is can be gauged from the fact that on a day when a bunch of miners were finally caught, it took more than seven hours to figure out whether they were to be booked by Delhi or UP. Says Manoj Misra of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, ‘‘Usage of machinery is causing a change in the natural topography. Deep digging and drilling leads to formation of ponds and when the river floods at any point of time, there is a danger of it changing its course. This can prove to be catastrophic for the city infrastructure as well.’’

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

Sand mafia attacks TOI team in Raigad

Mumbai, March 18, 2010:The sand-mining mafia, which is gradually choking Bankot Creek in Raigad, attacked a TOI team and environmental activists Sumaira Abdulali and Naseer Jalal that visited the creek on Tuesday afternoon to report on the illegal activities. The Mahad police have registered a case of attempt to murder, criminal intimidation and rioting. The 41-km-long Bankot Creek that passes through Raigad and Ratnagiri is Maharashtra’s own Sunderbans. The creek has a rich habitat for crocodiles, migratory birds, rich marine life and virgin mangroves which are about 15 feet high. The creek, however, is being choked by sand miners who operate as many as 14 sand-dredgers in a span of a kilometre violating all CRZ norms. A SUV carrying five people surrounded the car in which the TOI team and Abdulali was returning from the spot. One youngster said he owned the creek and no one had the right to take pictures of the creek. When he and his friends were asked to go away, they trailed the car in which the TOI team was and tried ramming into the vehicle. A few kilometres down, another LCV tried to ram into the car, causing a dent in its body and forcing it to stop. The vehicle was immediately hemmed in by three other vehicles and around 15 to 20 people who started smashing the vehicle’s windscreens. They smashed the rear window, the side mirror and side window. They then tried to snatch the camera from the TOI photographer but failed. The mob also threatened to kill local activist Jalal who was in the vehicle and asked Abdulali not to visit the area again. Traffic cops reached the spot soon, after being alerted by the TOI office, but the attackers continued to threaten and abuse the team of journalists and environmentalists; they had spent Rs 28 crore “buying the creek’’ and nobody could stop sand-dredging there, the mob said. Cops then escorted the team to the Mahad police station, four kilometres away, where police officials filed an FIR and booked the accused for attempt to murder, criminal intimidation and rioting. Raigad district superintendent of police R D Shinde said it was a serious issue and the culprits would be apprehended. Konkan range inspector-general Parambir Singh got into the act, ensuring that the team was escorted out of the zone safe and sound.

(Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Sand-mafia-attacks-TOI-team-in-Raigad/)

Tribe readies for battle against Vedanta's mine

New Delhi, March 17, 2010: The Dongria Kondh tribe who live in the Niyamgiri Hills of Orissa do not normally go to the top of the bauxite-rich slopes. The hilltop is considered sacred, the place where their presiding deity Niyam Raja (literally, the King of Law), or the Universal Lawgiver, is said to reside, and they leave it undisturbed.  But recently, the Dongria Kondh set aside custom and gathered in droves at the top of Niyamgiri in a special ceremony to harden their resistance to Vedanta, the London-based mining company owned by Anil Agarwal, which plans to extract 80 million tonnes of bauxite from their hills. From Ijurupa village in the foothills, it is a two-and- half-hour climb to the top, a steep trek that winds through a richly-forested track littered with elephant droppings. Outsiders are rarely allowed to enter the area, fiercely guarded by the tribes ever since the company made its first attempt to enter the hills in early 2009 for a demarcation survey. A memento of that incursion is the surreal silhouette of a badly burnt vehicle of the mining company in the quiet forest setting after the Dongria Kondhs stopped a team from visiting their village. Today, the mood is even more militant as Vedanta appears to be a whisker away from final approval for its mining operations. Angry tribesmen and women have made it clear that they are ready for battle – with both the government and the company. On February 21, several thousand of the Dongria Kondh made their way to the hilltop (4,300-foot high) for a traditional sacrifice of goats and chicken to propitiate Niyam Raja and vowed that they would not allow Vedanta to mine their mountain. A tablet was also consecrated to mark the event, a grey and red stone structure with a simple inscription: “Niyamgiri is ours. Vedanta beware, we are the Dongria Kondh.” Angry speeches marked the three-hour ceremony and Kondh leaders declared they would not allow the mining even if it meant they were killed. This is bad news for Vedanta Resources. The FTSE-100 metals giant (2009 revenues: $6.6 billion) desperately needs the bauxite from Niyamgiri to feed the company’s subsidiary, the one-million-tonne Vedanta Alumina refinery (VAL) in Lanjigarh, which is located close to the foothills. VAL supplies the alumina for its smelter in Jharsuguda, also in Orissa, and is the lynchpin of its aluminium strategy, which is expected to be spun off into a separate company. Both the alumina refinery and the smelter have massive expansion plans. Mukesh Kumar, VAL’s chief operating officer and the key official for Vedanta in the region, says without the Niyamgiri bauxite the outlook for the company is bleak. “VAL is the feeder for Jharsuguda and Balco and bauxite from Niyamgiri is critical for our aluminium operations,” Kumar said in an interview to Business Standard. The company contends that not a single Dongria Kondh will be displaced by the mining. It also says that of the 672.018 hectares of forest land allotted for mining, 390.25 hectares will be used for mining and auxiliary facilities. However, the main concern of the local people, as that of environmentalists, is that the mining of bauxite at the hilltop on 661 hectares would lead to the drying up of the dozens of streams that make Niyamgiri verdant and is also the source of the Vamsadhara River. With just the Stage 2 environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) to be given for mining, Vedanta is skittish about the rising tide of protest. It has successfully negotiated a series of challenges in the Supreme Court despite the court’s own Central Empowered Committee, especially since its image has received a battering after small but high-profile investors pulled funds out of the company in recent weeks, citing concerns about the consequences of mining on the Dongria Kondh. Another blow was a report by Amnesty International which listed several violations by the Lanjigarh refinery and the potential threat to the local community by the mining project. Vedanta insists that “we have done nothing wrong” and that all its clearances come through “India’s robust regulatory system and have been looked at by the Supreme Court.” The Dongria Kondh rejects these assertions. Ladho  Majhi, a fiery leader from Lakhpadhar village, says the process of consultation with the local community has been a charade from the beginning. “We were never told fully about what was in store for us,” says the bare-chested man who has an axe slung over his shoulder. The mandatory public hearings on mining activity were a sketchy affair held in early 2003 when the issue was clubbed with the refinery’s proposed captive power plant. Legal experts say a public hearing is valid only for a period of five years and, therefore, a new hearing will have to be scheduled on mining in Niyamgiri. The Dongria Kondh have been here for centuries and they have lived well from the richness of the Niyamgiri forest – its fruits and vegetables, its medicinal plants. “Our people know no other life and we will never leave our hill,” he says with finality. Others like Kumti Majhi, head of the Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti (the association of tribes people to protect the hill), says there will be no let-up in the struggle. Kumti had brought the woes of his people to international attention in 2007 when he was part of a protest organised outside the offices of Vedanta Resources during its AGM in August of that year. For Vedanta, the hilltop ceremony is the clearest rebuff yet from the people on whom it claims to have lavished basic facilities that have been missing in the region from roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, drinking water and electricity to sustainable livelihood for the community at large”. The latest setback is the adverse reports filed last Friday by a three-member fact-finding on the alleged violations of the Forest (Conservation) Act, specially with regard to the rights of the tribal people in the area. The final clearance for mining will be given by the Forest Advisory Committee of MoEF after going through the reports. But Kumar said one of the reports by Usha Ramanathan of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies on tribal rights was “biased and should not be considered in view of Ramanathan’s past association with the foreign NGO Amnesty” and because she had “exceeded the terms of reference given by MoEF.” The fate of the Dongria Kondh and Vedanta’s aluminium project will depend on what the FAC decides in coming days.

(Source:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com)

Vedanta's Orissa mining project under govt scanner

New Delhi, March 16, 2010: The plan by London-based Vedanta Resources to mine bauxite in Orissa—a key part of a giant aluminium complex which the company is building in the mineral-rich eastern state—could be jeopardised if the environment ministry accepts the findings of a report by a government-appointed committee. Environment minister Jairam Ramesh says the report will be sent to the ministry of tribal affairs for its inputs. Mr Ramesh says he is neither for nor against the project sought to be implemented by Vedanta, owned by tycoon Anil Agarwal, and would be guided entirely by the report and the facts on the ground. But officials at the ministry of environment & forests (MoEF) told ET that the government is deeply concerned about some of its findings, which has among other things pointed out that Vedanta’s mining activities in Niyamgiri in Orissa would have an adverse impact on the local Dongria Kondh tribe, which is classified as a primitive tribal group. The government, or at least the environment ministry, appears unconvinced by a strong letter of support sent to it by the Orissa government last Thursday supporting the project and asking for a final clearance. Any final licence to mine—if there is to be one—will now hinge on three factors . One is Vedanta’s response to a showcause notice issued to it by the environment ministry asking it to respond to allegations that it had started work on the mining project without receiving all clearances. More importantly, the response the environment ministry receives from the ministry of tribal affairs may decide the fate of the mining project. The tribal affairs ministry has been asked to figure out whether the Forest Rights Act, a law enacted by Parliament giving India’s tribal communities certain rights over the forests where they traditionally reside , has been properly implemented in that part of Orissa. Thirdly, the impact of the project on the Dongria Kondhs will be closely studied. One person familiar with the matter said the Vedanta issue has also become embroiled in politics with the Congress Party not seemingly in favour of the project. A top official in the environment ministry told ET on condition of anonymity that the government is alarmed about the complaints received against the mining company. “There cannot be smoke without fire. We are hearing about human rights abuses to a degree that is shocking,” said the official. Mr Ramesh’s move to rope in the ministry in charge of tribal welfare is in line with the views of the forest advisory committee that compiled the report on Vedanta and is the nodal agency for all forest clearances. The report suggests that the issue of whether the implementation of the Forest Right’s Act has been completed be referred to the tribal affairs ministry. Vedanta has denied any wrongdoing. In an emailed response to ET, a company spokesperson said that the views expressed in the fact finding report are “biased” and “should not be considered” because one of the committee members has had a past association with Amnesty, the NGO that has been opposing the company’s project. A three-member committee, comprising Usha Ramanathan, an independent law researcher, Vinod Rishi, additional director general (wildlife) at Dehradun’s Wildlife Institute of India, and JK Tewari, chief conservator of forests, MoEF (Bhubaneshwar), had submitted their report to the FAC last Friday. This report contradicts the claims of the district collectors of the two affected districts, Kalahandi and Rayagada, that the implementation of the FRA (Forest Rights Act) has been completed. The report says: “Until these, and allied rights are recognised, recorded and settled under the FRA, it would be unconstitutional and in breach of the FRA, to disturb (the tribals’ ) habitat.” The report has also highlighted the adverse impacts the project will have on the Dongria Kondhs saying that the community is not ready for an ecological shift, and that any “disruption of the habitat and the way of life of this PTG (Primitive Tribal Group) cannot be remediated nor compensated, and may lead to the destruction of the Dongria Kondh as a PTG.” The report also finds merit in villagers’ complaints about pollution from the plant. ET had reported on Monday that Vedanta is planning to list its Orissa aluminium project. But the large part of the value for potential investors is the reduction in cost which would endangered if the company sourced bauxite from Niyamgiri in Orissa rather than outside, which is currently the case. Given the negative tone of the report, an early clearance looks extremely unlikely . The report has brought the project’s possible impact on the local tribals to the centrestage. The rest of the report, on whether the company began construction in non-forest areas before it got a sister clearance for forest areas (under the Forest Conservation Act, construction can begin only once both clearances are given), and the project’s impact on wildlife, is more non-committal .

(Source:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com)

Illegal mining in sanctuary

New Delhi, March 16, 2010: The police have found illegal mining and tree-felling in the Capital’s only protected sanctuary, the Asola Bhatti Sanctuary. The Southeast district police last week raided a plot in Gupta Colony, Sangam Vihar, to recover Badarpur stones, mined illegally from the nearby Aravalli Hills, police sources said. Several labourers working with the illegally stored stones fled at the sight of the police team, according to a source.  A truck driver, identified as one Daler Singh, was later arrested. The raid and the subsequent FIR was lodged on March 9, police officials said.  The raid came after several complaints to Sangam Vihar police from forest department officials (see box) in the last couple of years about illegal mining and tree-felling in the protected sanctuary. The complaints allegedly did not yield any response. Quarrying has been banned on the Supreme Court’s orders in the Aravalli range in neighbouring Gurgaon and Faridabad districts to protect the ecologically fragile hills.

(Source:http://www.indianexpress.com/news/illegal-mining-in-sanctuary/591195/0)

Fossil treasure turns into dust

Rajmahal (Jharkhand)/Kolkata, March 15, 2010: Just about every rock you pick up in the 2,600-sq km Rajmahal hills is a treasure preserved by the earth for millions of years but now turning into dust. In a couple of years, this awe-inspiring wealth of Jurassic-era fossils will vanish forever, thanks to unbridled quarrying. Hundreds of trucks, cranes and bulldozers kick up dust in an area where once dinosaurs ruled. The rocks that preserve imprints of prehistoric trees and plants are being smashed up into chips to build roads in the neighbourhood. At places, the hills have been sheared almost vertically 10 storeys high, destroying countless of the finest fossils ever found anywhere on the planet. “Rajmahal hills are among the finest research fields geologists and palaeobotanists can expect. Sadly, the day is not far away when you won’t find even a single fossil here,” said Syed Raza Imam Rizvi, head of the geology department in Sahebganj College. According to experts, the plant fossils here date back between 68 million years and 150 million years. “The Rajmahal trap has fossil formations from the Mesozoic era, spread over the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous ages. The criminal destruction of such fossils must be stopped immediately,” said Bhaskar Chakraborti, council member of Mining Geology and Meteorological Institute of India and director of Geological Survey of India, after examining specimens collected by TOI. The quarrying is ruining possible dinosaur fossils as well. “There are clear hints of the existence of Jurassic and Triassic-age reptiles in this area. If proper excavation and study is carried out, these fossils could be found. We are still hoping that we may one day find a dinosaur fossil here,” said Rizvi, who has painstakingly surveyed almost the entire zone. Chakraborti pointed out that the plant fossils of Rajmahal hills are extremely well preserved a rarity for remnants of that age and they give an accurate record of the paleo-environment a long, long before human beings walked the planet. Most such plants and trees would have turned into coal, he said, but not here. The Rajmahal volcanic eruption, which ran up to Sylhet (now in Bangladesh), had a period of calm during which there was a luxurious growth of plants. When the volcanoes erupted again, the trees were buried at just the right temperature and pressure to prevent ‘coalification’. The prehistoric remains are so well preserved that even a layman can spot the fossils from stones. The annual rings of a tree or exquisite patterns of leaves are easily identified. Fossils from here find pride of place in museums and labs across the world. But this unique treasure trove is under assault from the ones who should be protecting it. All across the Rajmahal hills area, the government of Jharkhand has given away mining leases indiscriminately to private companies, who are blowing up the hills and digging tunnels. In this free-for-all, it is very difficult to identify who has a mining lease and who doesn’t. Some companies that don’t have lease grease the palms of the local administration to plunder the hills. If there are 500 agencies mining and blowing up the hills, you have 2,000 stone-crushing units smashing the precious fossils to nuggets perhaps the most ‘expensive’ road-building material in the world.

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

Sand transport ban stays

Bangalore, March 15, 2010:

A petition challenging the ban order on sand transportation to other states was dismissed by the High Court on Monday.

Binny Abraham of Puttur had challenged the order issued by the Deputy Director of Mines, Mangalore, on August 8, 2009, banning the transportation of sand outside the State, stating that it was a violation of Article 19 (1) (d). While issuing the ban, it was stated that construction activities in Bangalore was increasing and there was a severe shortage of sand for construction, but most of the sand from Dakshina Kannada district was being sent outside the state.  The High Court dismissed the petition and upheld the ban.

Reduce noise pollution

The High Court has directed the traffic authorities to consider the representation of Keshavan V C, who had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the High Court asking them to take urgent steps to reduce noise pollution.  The PIL requested the High Court to direct the traffic police to undertake regular drives to check the menace of noise pollution in Bangalore.  The petitioner contended that high decibel levels were creating hearing loss and hypertension and had also lead to the disappearance of sparrows in the city.

(Source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/58406/sand-transport-ban-stays.html)

Vedanta may spin off aluminium project

Mumbai, March 15, 2010: Vedanta Resources the mining major owned by London-based tycoon Anil Agarwal is likely to demerge a large aluminium project in Orissa into a separate entity to help the conglomerate get a better valuation for the aluminium business. London-listed Vedanta has hired Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse and JP Morgan Cazenove to put together a plan that would result if approved by shareholders and creditors in Vedanta Aluminium, the subsidiary which has operations in Orissa, being listed on NSE and BSE. Bharat Aluminium, or Balco, another aluminium company in the Vedanta fold, is not part of this plan, since the government owns 49% of it, said people familiar with the development. This is the second major corporate restructuring proposal that Vedanta has planned in two years. It had to go back on the earlier proposal a complicated plan which proposed the unbundling of its aluminium, zinc, copper and mining businesses due to the liquidity crisis and opposition from institutional shareholders. Vedanta Resources declined to comment for this story. The people familiar with the matter said Vedanta wanted to make its Indian business which are currently consolidated under Sterlite Industries which directly makes copper and holds stakes in companies smelting aluminium and zinc easier for investors to understand. If the plan is approved by shareholders and regulators, Sterlite will end up as primarily a maker of copper, zinc and lead while the bulk of the aluminium business will be with the new listed company, Vedanta Aluminium. Both entities, Sterlite and Vedanta Aluminium, will be majority owned by the London-based parent, Vedanta Resources. Vedanta Aluminium is 70% owned by Vedanta Resources and the rest is with Sterlite Industries. The details of the listing plan are not available, but logically there are three ways in which Vedanta Aluminium can be listed. The company could list through an initial public offer, or IPO, in which new shares would be issued, or the owners could divest their stake. The third option is to issue new shares to existing shareholders of Sterlite on a proportionate basis by valuing the contribution of the aluminium business. Shareholders, other than the owners, have to own 10% in all listed Indian companies, and that number will go up to 25% in the new fiscal starting April 1. Apart from shareholder approval, the demerger proposal would also require clearance from a high court, which could take about three months. The demerger proposal comes at a time when Vedanta Aluminium’s mining project in Niyamgiri in Orissa has come under regulatory glare for alleged environmental and human rights transgressions with organisations, such as the UK-based Amnesty International and Survival, alleging that the company hasn’t involved the local populace in the project, despite the fact that the project could displace them. This narrative popular among sections of non-governmental organisations, or NGOs, has been strongly denied by both Vedanta and the Orissa government. Both say that the mining project, currently undertaken jointly by Vedanta and the state government-owned Orissa Mining Corporation, has not violated any Act. The demerger proposal for Vedanta Aluminium doesn’t include Bharat Aluminium, or Balco, as the Indian government owns 49% in it. Sterlite acquired a 51% stake in Balco through a divestment programme in 2001. Any consolidation of Balco into the new aluminium business would happen only if the government sells its stake. Sterlite and the government have so far not been able to agree on a price. While Balco makes about 350,000 tonne of aluminium at its smelter in Korba, Vedanta Aluminium plans to put together an integrated aluminium operation in Orissa which would consist of a 1.75-million-tonne aluminium smelter at Jharsuguda, 5-million-tonne alumina refinery that will convert the bauxite proposed to be mined at Niyamgiri into alumina and a captive power plant of 1,215 megawatts, as the entire conversion process is done through electricity. On completion, Vedanta Aluminium, along with Balco, will catapult the Vedanta Group into the world’s fourth-largest aluminium player, behind Rusal of Russia, Alcoa of US and Chalco of China. The valuations for Vedanta Aluminium, once the Orissa project is complete, could touch $20 billion, based on the low cost of production, said analysts. Currently, since Vedanta Aluminium buys alumina the main raw material for making aluminium from outside, its cost of production is $1,400 per tonne, which could fall to about $1,000 per tonne, once the Niyamgiri mining project takes off. Globally, the lowest cost of production at $1,300 per tonne is that of China’s Chalco. But it is far from clear if Vedanta will get a mining licence in Niyamgiri anytime in the near future or ever. On Friday, the government’s forest advisory committee, or FAC, submitted a lengthy report on the Vedanta project. While the project found no major violations of environmental norms, it said the local tribal population, which is classified as a ‘primitive tribal group’, were in no position to benefit from the project. Further, the report calls for the proper implementation of a central Act called the Forest Produce Act in Niyamgiri. The environment ministry is likely to refer this to the tribal affairs ministry.

(Source:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/)

Goa tells MinesMin it won’t issue fresh mining leases

New Delhi, March 14, 2010: With concerns mounting on the adverse impact of mining on the environment, the Goa government has decided not to grant any fresh mining leases in the near future. The move comes after environment and forests minister Jairam Ramesh endorsed the Digamber Kamat government’s proposal not to give environmental clearance to any new mine. “We have received a letter from the Goa chief minister saying that his government was not going to issue fresh mining leases. He has expressed serious concern on the adverse impact of mining on the environment and we share the state’s concerns. Kamat said his administration would not allocate the mining lease for one proposal, where we have given our prior approval,” mines minister B K Handique told The Indian Express. Kamat has found support in his initiative from Ramesh. Replying to the chief minister’s letters, Ramesh said his ministry has decided to impose a moratorium on consideration of mining proposals for environmental clearance till the coastal state finalised its mineral policy and his ministry is apprised of the same.

(Source:http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Goa-tells-MinesMin-it-won-t-issue-fresh-mining-leases/590490)

Vedanta plans within law: Orissa

New Delhi, March 14, 2010: Orissa government on Sunday said that Vedanta’s plans for the state were within the ambit of the law. This comes in sharp contrast to the Centre’s assertion that the company’ proposed mining project in Niyamgiri hills violated green and tribal norms. In two separate letters to officials of the ministry of environment and forests, Orissa’s forest and environment department special secretary, Mr B.P. Singh, said the proposed mining by Vedanta Resources jointly with Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) is not in violation of “any Act”. “Since the project area sp-reads over two separate districts — Rayagada and Kalahandi — the collectors of these two districts..., have furnished the relevant certificates pertaining to compliance with provisions of the Forest Rights in respect of the land falling within their jurisdiction.” Orissa’s forest and environment principal secretary, Mr Upendra Behera, said, “Yes we have infor-m-ed the Centre about the fin-dings of the two collectors that in the 660.74 hectares of land there has been no claim from any traditional forest dweller."

(Source:http://www.asianage.com/)

Miner Vedanta flouting Indian rules: minister

New Delhi, March 14, 2010:India's environment minister on Saturday accused London-based resource giant Vedanta of violating local laws with a mining project in an area held sacred by a tribal group. Vedanta's 125-billion-rupee (2.7-billion-dollar) investment in the Niyamgiri Hills in the eastern state of Orissa has emerged as a test case in India, pitting industrial interests against those of indigenous peoples and the environment. The open-caste bauxite mine is intended to feed a nearby aluminium refinery already built by the company and currently supplied with bauxite from other Indian states. Environment minister Jairam Ramesh said an official team visiting the site had found several violations by the firm, which has come under fire from rights and environmental groups. "I would not subscribe to the high-profile campaign in the case by various groups," the Press Trust of India quoted him as saying. "I am looking at the case on merit basis.... But I can say that they have violated Forest Rights Act, without taking consideration of the tribal rights," Ramesh told the news agency in New Delhi. The 2006 Forest Rights Act offers protection to various forest-dwelling communities of India. Ramesh did not go into details on the alleged violations but said the company had already started construction on state land without government approval. His comments come less than a month after Vedanta denied the company would be mining anywhere near the tribal site in Orissa and said it would bring employment and development to the impoverished region.

(Source:http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5itHgdvSuh_5VLtlk2-atl8xRDN3g)

Vedanta flouted forest conservation norms, says report

New Delhi, March 13, 2010: Vedanta Aluminium has violated forest conservation guidelines and has failed to follow the Forest Rights Act in letter and spirit at a proposed bauxite mine project in the Niyamgiri Hills of Orissa, according to a report submitted by a three-member team to the Ministry of Environment and Forests. After receiving allegations about the project earlier this year, the Ministry constituted the team – with a forestry official, a former government wildlife official and an independent sociology expert -- to inspect the site and speak to all stakeholders. The team's report was considered by the Forest Advisory Committee of the Ministry on Friday, and the Orissa government was asked to provide an explanation for the violations, according to Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests. The company has built an incomplete mine access road passing through both forest and non-forest areas and has constructed 47 pillars for a conveyor corridor before receiving clearances, in violation of the Forest Conservation Act guidelines, according to a site inspection by J.K. Tewari, Chief Conservator of Forests. So far as wildlife was concerned, Vinod Rishi, former Additional Director General of the Wildlife Institute of India, has said that if no further diversion of forest land for mining is allowed, the Niyamgiri ecosystem would be able to recover. It is the report of Usha Ramanathan from the Centre for Study of Developing Society, which is the most damning. She says that the Forest Rights Act has yet to be implemented in the area. The local Dongria Kond tribals have not been made fully aware of their land rights, nor have they been consulted about the mining project, because under the strict definition, they are not displaced people. However, Dr. Ramanathan notes that “the disruption of their habitat and way of life…may lead to the destruction of the Dongria Konds as a Primitive Tribal Group.” She also documents cases of repression of public opinion and dissent by both the company and local authorities and reports of pollution by Vedanta's nearby refinery. In fact, she says that Vedanta Aluminium's involvement in the project may itself violate a Supreme Court order.

(Source:http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article243927.ece)

Illegal mining endangers life in Chamoli

Chamoli, Dehradun, March, 12, 2010: For the past three years, local residents have been undertaking mining for gravel at a location near the officers’ colony inspite of administration officials being aware of the activity. The change in the topography due to the illegitimate mining for gravel for the past three years has now loosened the ground to such an extent that the foundation of at least three residential buildings is now threatened. According to information provided by local sources, due to the damage caused by indiscriminate mining activity, the foundation of three homes faces the imminent risk of sinking in to the loose ground. Apart from the immediate danger posed by the mining to the three residential buildings, if the authorities fail to effectively stop the mining without delay the Women’s Poly-Technique, ITI and parts of the Nail Kudav motor road could also face the risk of building collapse. Local sources inform that since past three years, the residents of rural area have been continuing the practice of mining by the roadside at a location situated near the District HQ, Gopeshwar. The villagers undertake mining in the location for gravel which they use for the construction of their homes and cattle sheds. However, with consistent construction activity during the past three years resulting in a consistent mining of the area for gravel, the geological composition of the area has been negatively affected by the indiscriminate mining activity. Reliable sources inform that such is the extent of damage caused by the indiscriminate mining activity in the area that three residential buildings and a portion of the Nail Kudav motor road are facing the imminent danger of collapse. In addition to the imminent danger posed to the motor road and three residential buildings the indiscriminate mining activity which is still continuing could also pose a serious danger to the stability of the Women’s Poly-Technique, ITI and a portion of the officer’s colony if the mining activity is not stopped without delay.  It is pertinent to mention that during their inspections and visits to the Poly-Technique, ITI and officer’s colony, district administration officials often pass this area damaged by the continued indiscriminate mining activity, inspite of which no steps have been taken to effectively stop the mining activity.  Local social worker, Manoj Singh Rawat states that officials of the district administration have on many occasions been informed about the indiscriminate mining activity and the threats posed by its damaging effects. He warned that if the mining activity is not stopped a stretch of the Nail Kudav motor road and at least three residential buildings would be damaged and possibly collapse.  On being asked about the mining activity, Chamoli District Magistrate, Neeraj Semwal said that this particular case had not been brought to his notice yet.  However, he added that the SDM would soon be issued orders to take action against those involved in illegitimate mining in the region. It remains to be seen whether the action of the district administration proves to be timely enough to stop the mining activity before it causes serious damage to residential buildings and the motor road.

(Source:http://dailypioneer.com/241497/Illegal-mining-endangers-life-in-Chamoli.html)

Kerala not for deep-sea mining

Thiruvananthapuram, March 12, 2010: Kerala Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac informed the Assembly on Thursday that the State government was opposed to deep-sea sand-mining, but would go all out to tap the revenue-generating material from reservoirs in the State. Responding to an intervention during his reply to the debate on the final supplementary demands for grants for 2009-10, Dr. Isaac said sand-mining in reservoirs was beneficial in the long run. Besides increasing the capacity of the reservoirs, it would help the Kerala Water Authority which drew much of its drinking water supply from rivers.  “This will be a source of revenue for the next 15 years,” he said.

(Source:http://beta.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/article237051.ece)

SC orders status quo on mining by OMC

Hyderabad, March 11, 2010: The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered status quo on mining operations by the Obulapuram Mining Company in Anantapur district. The order comes while considering a petition by the state government seeking a stay of the Andhra Pradesh HC order allowing mining and transportation of iron ore by the firm run by the Reddy brothers of Karnataka. A bench headed by Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan also urged all parties to once more approach the Andhra Pradesh High Court since it would be in the best position to decide the issues of boundary dispute involved in the matter.  While fixing hearing for March 22, the bench ordered “status quo” when the Attorney General, Mr G.E. Vahanvati, made a special mention of the state’s petition. However, lawyers of the government and OMC interpreted the status quo order of the SC differently. While the Attorney General said it would mean that the OMC and other leaseholders would not be able to remove any mining material from the area till March 22, the OMC lawyers read it as continuation of the AP High Court verdict.

(Source:http://www.deccanchronicle.com/hyderabad/sc-orders-status-quo-mining-omc-315)

Court orders status quo in AP mining firm case

New Delhi, March 11, 2010: The case related to the controversial mining by Reddy brothers’ Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) and three other leaseholders again came back to the Supreme Court with the Andhra Pradesh government seeking stay of the state high court order permitting mining by them. While fixing hearing on the petition of AP government for March 22, a bench, headed by Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan ordered “status quo” when Attorney General G.E. Vahanvati made a special mention of the state’s special leave petition (SLP). “Contrary to the direction of this court, the high court had permitted the mining without an elaborate hearing,” Mr Vahanvati alleged. But lawyers from both sides — government and OMC — drew different meaning of the status quo order. While Attorney General said that as per his reading it would mean that the OMC and other leaseholders would not be able to remove any mining material from the area till March 22, the next hearing of the apex court. On the other hand, lawyers for OMC read it as continuation of the high court verdict. The state government in the SLP pointed out that the high court had simply dealt with the power of the state to ban mining. The HC had said that since the matter is placed in list-1 of entry-54 of seventh schedule, state had no jurisdiction over the matter. The government said while coming to this conclusion, the high court had ignored the elaborate direction of the apex court that it should hear the Central Empower Committee (CEC) on merits. The government in its appeal further said that the apex court while referring the case to high court on January 14, had specifically said that it “shall also hear the CEC, which is made as one of the respondents and the facts stated by the CEC may be considered on merits.” It was also further stated by the apex court that the state government “shall” be free to identify, demarcate and fix the boundaries of the leased area after giving notices to the applicant company. But all these aspects were simply not taken into consideration by the high court.

(Source:http://www.asianage.com)

Orissa Govt cracking down on illegal mining

Bhubaneswar, March 11, 2010: Following continuous criticism from Opposition parties, the Orissa Government has said that all efforts are being made to book those engaged in illegal mining and theft of various minerals, including iron ore and manganese. Although the Biju Janata Dal Government was against the Opposition demand that the cases relating to illegal mining and theft of minerals be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Chief Minister, Mr Naveen Patnaik, told the State Assembly on Wednesday that his Government's action against the culprits was unparalleled. 11 cases registered. The Vigilance Department of the State Government had so far registered 11 cases and arrested nine persons, including eight government officials, for their alleged involvement in the scam, Mr Patnaik said. After the scam came to light with the Opposition parties raising the issue in the State Assembly last year, the Government had ordered a vigilance probe into the allegations. The Mining Department swung into action after it was found in January this year that huge quantities of iron ore were illegally taken away in rakes from the railway sidings near Banspani and Jurudi railway stations. The Deputy Director of Mines at Joda in Keonjhar district has since suspended a total of 103 storing, dumping and loading licences, according to official sources. Prohibitory orders have been imposed in the railway sidings near the two stations, and loading, unloading and other activities have been stopped till competition of the verification of the stock of minerals in the area. The local police had started taking action against those involved in illegal mining and theft of minerals. Seven persons have been arrested in the past few days.

(Source:http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/03/12/stories/2010031252911800.htm)

Orissa bans road movement of iron ore

Kolkata, March 11, 2010: The iron ore transportation issue in Orissa has taken a new turn with the district administration prohibiting the road movement of the ore along National Highway 215 that connects the iron ore-rich Keonjhar district with Paradip port and the rest of the country. The order issued by the district administration stipulates that the movement of all types of heavy commercial vehicles carrying iron ore and other minerals on NH 215 will remain suspended for two weeks, from March 10 to March 25. It might be noted that railway loading and transportation of ore from Banspani/Jarauli area in Keonjhar district has remained suspended for the past few days following the State Government's order. Inquiries with the Orissa Government reveal that the restriction on road movement has been clamped in view of the annual examinations of the Board of Secondary Education, Orissa. The examinations are currently in progress and the examinees must not face inconvenience due to the movement of heavily loaded iron ore trucks. Meanwhile, the trade and industry as well as the Railways are apprehensive that the State Government might extend the scope of restriction on rail loading of iron ore beyond Banspani/Jarauli area to include other railway goods sheds in Keonjhar district such as Barbil, Bolani and Deojhar which are now outside the purview of the restriction. If that really happens, the present crisis facing the Railways will only deepen, it is felt. Jindal plant loading

It might be noted that the iron ore loading for the Jindal plant and Steel Authority of India's plants has remained unaffected so far because the loading for the Jindal plant takes place at Deojhar goods shed and that for SAIL plants at Bolani, according to railway sources. The General Manager of South Eastern Railway, which has been hit by the present restriction on loading, has urged the Chief Secretary, Orissa, for early completion of investigation into the alleged “illegal mining” in the interests of those who source iron ore from the mines, hit by the present ban.

(Source:http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/03/12/stories/2010031252911800.htm)

CIL sets up satellite surveillance system for eco friendly mining

March 11, 2010:An effort to accord high priority to environment friendly mining practices, Coal India Limited has introduced satellite surveillance of its open cast mines. The satellite imageries and the related surveillance data to be updated regularly are available on the Web for public scrutiny. CIL has also made environmental mitigation records the second most important parameter, after production targets, in the annual performance report of its managers. Mr PS Bhattacharyya chairman of CIL said that "In the past, the managers, despite having poor record in meeting the land reclamation at the open cast mines as well as afforestation targets, could rise to the topmost positions in the organization. It will no longer be possible in the new regime, as non fulfillment of the environmental responsibilities would go against his performance records." On the satellite surveillance, he said that 35 large open cast projects operated by the company had been brought under scrutiny in 2009-10. He added that "We are going to extend the surveillance to 14 more large mines in 2010-11 covering nearly 80% of the total open cast production in the country. All the 172 open cast projects will be brought under the surveillance in 3 years." According to him, the available reports suggest that overall the company is on target in meeting the land reclamation and afforestation targets. He said that "In fact, we have planted or raised more trees than we destroyed due to mining in a number of large mines. Northern Coalfields is the best performer in this regard. The subsidiary has also done biological reclamation of land."

(Source:http://steelguru.com/news/index/MTM2MTk4/CIL_sets_up_satellite_surveillance_system_for_eco_friendly_mining.html)

Closure of mines dominates question hour

House full as Opposition legislators return

Chandigarh, March 10, 2010: Mining and its closure, rise in the cost of construction material, the impact on environment and the resulting rehabilitation and restoration plan dominated question hour discussion in the assembly today. It was full house with the suspension of members of the Opposition benches revoked. The proceedings began with a question by Sampat Singh on the number of quarries in the state and the revenue collected from them. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala said against 294 quarries in 2005-06, their number had fallen to 196 in 2009-10 while the total revenue from minerals and stone quarries had increased in the same period. Stating that mining had been stopped since February 28, 2010, owing to a case pending in the Supreme Court, he said a restoration and rehabilitation plan would be ready by March 31. With mining closed, it was natural that prices would go up, he added. On the fate of labour which had been rendered jobless, Surjewala said information on the matter was not readily available. To a question on a proposal to allocate funds for the upkeep of war memorials, Sujewala said the government had sufficient funds available for the same. To this Col Raghbir Singh said the war memorial in Bhiwani was poorly kept, prompting the minister to add that representatives across the state should feel free to send designs, choice of material to be used and expansion plans for a war memorial anywhere in the state. “We recognise the sacrifice of our soldiers and, on behalf of the CM, assure the House that there will be no dearth of funds,” he said.BJP legislator Anil Vij said the CM had announced a memorial in Ambala cantonment which was yet to see the light of day. At this, CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the government was alive to the sacrifices of the unsung heroes of the revolt and would honour its promise. On illegally occupied Wakf Board properties, Surjewala said the government had ordered a fresh survey to identify all such property in the state and would take action against any official found wanting in performing his duty. Members pointed out that there was inadequate space for the graveyards. To a question on crime against women cases and female foeticide, the government provided data showing that the former was up from 3,391 in 2001 to 5,415 in 2009, and the latter from 26 to 44 in the same period.Later, the government brought a resolution converting the non-official day into official, inviting vociferous protest from the Opposition. Surjewala claimed that the INLD during its term had never had a non-official day. “Though our government has set aside a day for the purpose, it is being modified because we have received no resolutions,” he said, prompting the INLD and later the BJP to stage a walkout, even as the treasury benches thumped their tables as Capt Ajay Yadav began his Budget speech.

(http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100311/haryana.htm#2)

Mine Blowing- III: State, Centre in legal tango

Chandigarh, March 10, 2010: Holding that prior environment clearance was mandatory for minor minerals also in terms of the 2006 notification of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF), the Punjab and Haryana High Court last year had allowed mining up to February 28. It had asked the Haryana mines department to get environment impact assessment report (EIAR) prepared from the expert appraisal committee (EAC) of the MOEF by then. Many had felt at that time that the department had failed to inform the court of the correct status of the appraisal committee, a regulatory authority, which could not prepare an assessment report. The state should have emphatically explained to the court that it was the project proponent (mining contractor) who could effectively get the report prepared under the 2006 notification. The contractor would get a mining plan prepared, and on the basis of the likely affect on ecology by the mining operation to be undertaken, the environment impact assessment report was to be prepared for approval by the appraisal committee. Subsequent events proved these apprehensions to be true. As per the court directions, the mines department approached the appraisal committee with the terms of reference running into about 1,200 pages in the first week of September last and apprised it of the court orders. The committee took the stand that since it was a regulatory authority, it could not be asked to prepare the impact assessment report. The appraisal committee wanted the department to file a review petition before the High Court. It was mollified only when told by the department that it was not competent to file a review before the court as far as directions to the committee were concerned. Ultimately, the committee returned the department’s proposal with the advice that instead of being based on the entire district, the proposal should be on a village-wise basis. It also said since it was the competent authority under the 2006 notification for approval of the appraisal report, preparation of the same by it would lead to a conflict of interests.ow the state and the Ministry of Environment and Forests both have moved the High Court for clarification/ modification of its earlier order. While Haryana wants that it be allowed to get the appraisal report prepared at its level, the ministry wants the appraisal panel to be relieved of the onus of preparing the assessment report. The state also wants that since it would take some time to prepare the assessment report, the mining may be allowed without the same up to March 31, 2011.Meanwhile, one Deepak Kumar has challenged the competence of the High Court to allow mining without environment clearance up to February 28, 2010, before the Supreme Court. He has also moved the High Court, praying not to extend the time for mining without environment clearance. In view of these legal wrangles, there seems to be no early respite for the end user, who has to pay dearly, and for the labourers, which have lost livelihood.

(Source:http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100311/haryana.htm#30

Opposition digs up more illegal ‘activities’

Bhubaneswar, March 10, 2010:: The Opposition mounted a scathing attack on the State Government in the Assembly on Tuesday for its inaction against the culprits involved in the multi-crore mining scam and reiterated the demand for a CBI probe to unearth the truth. However, the Government rejected the demand for the CBI probe on the ground that the State Vigilance was doing a good job. Describing the Vigilance probe an eyewash meant to cover up the scam, the Congress and the BJP members alleged that more facts have come to the light about the involvement of senior railway officials in the illegal transportation of minerals.  The issue cropped up during discussion on the admissibility of an adjournment motion notice brought by the Opposition. Reiterating the demand for CBI probe into the scam, K V Singhdeo (BJP) alleged though it has been close to a year since the mining scam was exposed, the State Government has not taken action against the culprits. He wanted to know why none from the Rambahadur Thakur Limited (RBTL) has been arrested or questioned over the mining scam though irregularities committed by the company, liquidated since the last 10 years, has been established by the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM). On the issue of allowing the RBTL to post guards in its mines, the Steel and Mines department Secretary has misled the Centre, he said, adding the information provided to the Centre in this regard contradicted the statement made by the Minister in the House last year. How can the Secretary plead that he was unaware of law before the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) in this regard, Singhdeo asked and demanded that he should be removed from the post forthwith.  The State Government has also not taken any action against Arjun Lodha & Co for defrauding the State exchequer of hundreds of crores of rupees by its illegal mining activities in forest land. Besides, the change of company name from MS Deb to BC Deb, in another case, was also not investigated, he said. Singhdeo alleged that 128 mines suspended by the State Government are still in operation. The BJP leader also criticised the Government for allowing Essar Steel Limited and BRPL (P) Limited to lay pipeline for transporting iron slurry when their applications are pending with the Centre. Referring to illegal transportation of ore by railway rakes, Singhdeo said that the Centre is hand in glove with the State Government to cover up the issue. Claiming that illegal transportation of ores using railway rakes was exposed by the Assembly Public Accounts Committee (PAC) which visited the Banspani railway siding in January, Prasad Harichandan (Cong) alleged that no FIR has been filed even after so many days. The direction of allowing railway rakes comes from the railway divisional headquarters at Chakradharpur, he said. Harichandan said seizure of ore worth over hundreds of crores of rupees from the Jurudi and Banspani railway sidings in Keonjhar district even after suspension of 103 storing, dumping and loading licences speaks volumes about the interest of the State Government to check smuggling of minerals. His party colleague Santosh Singh Saluja demanded that companies and persons involved in the looting of minerals should be brought under the CBI net. Making a statement, Minister for Steel and Mines Raghunath Mohanty said prohibitory orders have been clamped at the Banspani and Jurudi railway sidings. All loading, unloading and other activities in this connection have been suspended, he said, adding that iron ore and manganese have been seized from the two sidings. The Minister admitted that RBTL has been found guilty of illegal mining activities by the administrative inquiry and the Deputy Director of Mines, who gave permission for guarding their mines, was suspended. While showcause notice was issued to Arjun Lodha & Co, the State Government has decided to strengthen the enforcement squad further.

(Source:http://www.expressbuzz.com)

Minister admits iron-ore lifting

Bhubaneswar, March 10, 2010: Orissa mines and industry minister Raghunath Mohanty on Tuesday admitted lifting of minerals worth Rs 150 crores from different railway sidings in the Keonjhar and Sundergarh districts and assured the members of the Orissa Legislative Assembly of stringent actions against culprits involved in the act.  Replying to an adjournment motion given by the Opposition Congress member Prasad Harchandan, Mr Mohanty said that an Inter-Agency Committee (IAC) had been constituted under the chairmanship of Commissioner of Rail Coordination (CRC) to investigate into the disappearance of the minerals. This newspaper had on February 21 reported that at least 36,000 metric tonnes of iron-ore illegally raised from forest areas and stockpiled at two railway sidings — Banspani and Jurudi in Keonjhar district had mysteriously disappeared.  The precious mineral — roughly estimated to be worth Rs 150 crores — is suspected to have been lifted by a big racket allegedly having political patronisation. The minister said the police — acting on a first information report filed by the local Joda deputy director mines (DDM) — has registered a case and investigation is on to trace out the minerals and arrest the accused. “There is no laxity on the part of the state government. Two surveyor teams have been constituted to assist the investigating team. Two notorious mines mafia have already been taken into custody. One of them has been booked under National Security Act,” the minister said. The minister informed the House that the state vigilance department had got prima facie evidences without regard to illegal exploitation of minerals in at least 12 mines and 12 cases were lodged against the persons involved in such acts. The minister said there was no need to hand over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation. Participating in the debate, Congress legislator Mr Harichandan and his colleague Satosh Singh Saluja said the both the railway officials, senior state government officers and mines mafia had joined hands to drain out the mineral resources. He stated that the Congress fact-finding team, which had recently visited some railway sidings in the mineral-rich Keonjhar district, had got prima facie evidence about the transport of iron ore to other states via Chakdradharpur. “During our investigation, we found that there is a big nexus between the railway officials and the state government. Hardcore mafia elements are also involved in lifting and transportation of mineral resources. This nexus can only be unearthed only by the CBI,” the Opposition members maintained.

(Source:http://www.asianage.com)

Now, Posco faces Church heat

Catholic Church Joins Villagers In Opposing Rs 50,000-Cr Plant In Orissa

Bhubaneswar, March 10, 2010:After Anil Agarwal’s Vedanta Resources, now it is Korea’s Posco that is facing the heat from the Catholic Church, which has declared to stand by the villagers opposed to the setting up of the Rs 50,000 crore mega steel venture near Paradip in Orissa.  “We oppose anything that threatens to displace thousands, destroy forests, pollute environment and deprive people of their traditional livelihood. The Church cannot accept projects that would make people refugees in their own land,” All India Christian Council secretary general, John Dayal on Tuesday told ET. Villagers are opposing government plans to lease 4,000 acres fertile land to Posco for its three iron mining projects in Kandhahar, Kujanga and Paradip. Mr Dayal made it clear that the Church of England is against multi-national companies displacing thousands for mega industrial projects. “The Church of England withdrew all its investments from Vedanta Resources for violating human rights and causing environmental damage near its plant site at Lanjigarh. The Church must support the movement against large projects which are denuding forests, marginalizing tribal people and trivialising human dignity,” he said. The Korean company’s Indian subsidiary, Posco India, has been facing stiff resistance from locals for the last five years and the promised land still eludes it. With protests growing loud and clear, the biggest FDI proposal may not see the light of the day. Besides, the opposition has now spread to affected villages in Keonjhar and Sundargarh districts. In these villages, locals are guarding their farmlands against the entry of government and Posco officials.  Father Nicholas Barla, a tribal leader who has lent his support to Khandadahr Bachao Andolan (Save Khandadhar agitation), said over telephone that the proposed mines would displace 42,493 people in Sundargarh district alone. Of these 32,044 are tribal, dalit and poor Christians. “We have seen displacement at Rourkela, Hirakud and other places due to mega projects. People have become refugees in their own land and many still have not got compensation. We will not allow Posco to set its foot in Khandadhar,” Barla reiterated. Corroborating Father Barla, Khandadhar Bachao Andolan convener Aswini Mohanta said people now have become conscious of their rights. “We have organised several rallies and people are guarding their villagers and have driven out Posco counselors sometime back. Khanadadhar has 26 streams out of which 12 are perennial streams. If mining is allowed these streams will die down and we will have no water for our survival. We are determined to fight against Posco till our last breath,” Mr Mohanta added. Former Jharakhand Mukti Morcha MLA Mansid Ekka, who leads the villagers’ fight to protect their “water, land and forest” said: “The project is a conspiracy by the state to loot vulnerable tribal and dalit people in the name of development.” Activists claim the projects would also seriously damage the ecology, environment and water bodies and about 2,900 acres pledged are forests. Posco recently offered Rs 7000 per decimal of betel vines, but the villagers have not accepted the package as yet. Praful Samantaray, who leads Jana Shakti Abhiyan (People’s Power Campaign), said the villagers first should get record of rights in their names as per the Forest Dwellers Act. Mr Samantray warned that the captive port would destroy the nesting habitat of the endangered Olive Ridley turtles as well as dolphins, hyenas, jackals and other animals in the forest. “It would destroy mangroves and thereby increasing the intensity of cyclones,” he cautioned adding that people across the state would observe March 10 as protest against state repression on peoples’ movements.

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

NMDC plans to enter energy, infrastructure and fertiliser

Move Part of Strategy to Become Fully Integrated Mining Entity

New Delhi, March 9, 2010: India’s largest mining company NMDC plans to set up three functional divisions to diversify into energy, infrastructure and fertiliser sectors. The company plans to set up conventional and non-conventional power projects, steel manufacturing facilities and fertiliser plants under different joint ventures with prospective partners, a government official said. State-owned NMDC is under administrative control of steel ministry. “The company plans to form three separate verticals and each will be headed by expert CEOs. Respective verticals will forge alliances with private and public sector companies specialising in respective fields,” the official said requesting anonymity. The move is part of NMDC’s ambitious strategy to diversify its activities beyond mining and become a fully integrated entity in the metals and mining space, he said. The company has already set up its foreign division, NMDC Global, to look after acquisition of iron ore properties in overseas markets. NMDC chairman & managing director Rana Som declined to comment on the company’s diversification plan. “We have several plans on the drawing board. I can’t comment at this stage,” he told ET. The company is launching its public offer on March 10 and, as per stock exchange rules, it can’t make any major announcement during the period. In the fertiliser vertical, NMDC plans to form joint ventures to undertake mining activities for rock phosphate and potash, both in India and overseas. It is in talks with Rashtriya Chemicals and Nagarjuna Fertiliser for the proposed projects. “A collaboration could formally be announced soon,” the official said. The proposed energy division will help NMDC to foray into coal-based power plants and solar power generation. The company has also in discussion with Tata Power, KSK Energy, Monnet Ispat and West Bengal Mineral Development and Trading Corporation for setting up joint ventures for developing coal blocks domestically. The proposed infrastructure division will focus on development of steel plants and mining activities, he said. The company plans to set up a 3 million tonne steel plant in Chhattisgarh and a 2 million tonne plant in Karnataka. NMDC is also in talks with Tata Steel for developing integrated steel plants in a mutually agreed location, the official said. NMDC is also scouting for partners with state mineral corporations of Jharkhand and Karnataka for developing iron ore facilities. It is already developing magnesite with J&K Minerals and limestone mines with SAIL. NMDC currently produces about 30 million tonne of good quality iron ore. It reported a net profit of Rs 4,350 crore on a turnover of Rs 7,500 crore in 2008-09. It intends to take up the total turnover to Rs 30,000 crore by 2015.

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

In the Assembly: No need to panic, says Government to Moodbidri people

Bangalore, March 9, 2010: The Karnataka Government on Tuesday told the Legislative Assembly that it has not permitted any company to conduct bauxite mining in villages of Moodabidri constituency in Dakshina Kannada district. Replying to a question of Abhayachandra Jain of the Congress, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister S Suresh Kumar, who provided the reply on behalf of the Chief Minister, said the Government has not granted any permission to the company to take up the mining in Niddodi, Thenka Yedapadav and other villages in the constituency. In fact, the Government has sought the deputy commissioner's opinion for granting permission for bauxite mining in the constituency. A Shimoga-based private firm had applied in 2007 during the Kumaraswamy regime and sought permission for bauxite mining in Moodabidri. In the same year, the Government had sought the clearance from the Forest Department and the department said out of 630 acres identified for mining, only 97 acres fall outside the Western Ghats, he said. Mr Kumar said there was no need to have any apprehension about the mining in Karkala taluk. The Government would hold a public hearing before permitting mining in the constituency, Mr Kumar said. Moodabidri MLA Jain said the people had protested the survey of their lands by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board. The KIAD has been receiving public protests in all parts of the state following land acquisition policy, the MLA said. The environment, agricultural and grazing lands in the constituency would be damaged if the permission was granted for the bauxite mining. The farmers would migrate to cities and towns by taking up mining by a private company, he said. In a reply to Vasanth Bangera of the Congress, Mr Kumar said compensation to be paid for families who lose lands for installation of power transmission line in the Belthangady constituency. The compensation was limited only to crop loss.  The 180 km 400 kv transmission line would installed from Nandikur in Udupi district to Shantigrama in Hassan district, he said. Mr Kumar said 159 towers would be installed in Belthangady taluk and so far only 54 sub stations and two towers have been constructed. Another 105 sub-stations would be constructed and compensation would be paid to land owners, he said. U T Kharder of the Congress flayed the Government's lack of action on the sand mining.  The BJP Government is planning to formulate new sand extraction policy on the lines of the one existed in Tamil Nadu to check illegal extraction of sand in different parts of the State, said Mr  Suresh Kumar. Mr Khader, H C Mahadevappa, N Sampangi of the Congress, C T Ravi of the BJP, and others said that district major roads, state and national highways were damaged following the movement of sand laden trucks.  Illegal extraction of sand caused severe drinking water problems in several districts and officials of the Home and Transport departments have failed to check illegal sand mining, they alleged and demanded the new policy.

(Source:http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=172300)

Tiger roar fading in Orissa

Mindless Mining, Industrialization Leading To Large-scale Destruction of Forests Spell Doom for Big Cats

Even as the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) prepares to launch a special tiger census, the news has failed to cheer environmentalists in Orissa. They said regardless of the outcome, the future of big cats in Orissa is all but doomed because of the large-scale destruction of forest land due to “mindless mining” and industrialization in the state. Orissa, thanks to its sizeable area of forest cover, has all along been regarded as a major tiger habitat in the country—Similipal in the north, Sunabeda in the south and Satakosia in Angul district. But the ground reality in these places has worsened over the years, resulting in a sharp decline in wildlife population, including tigers. The nearly 6,569 sq km Similipal biosphere in Mayurbhanj district has since been run over by Maoists. While forest officials no more venture into Similipal, the government has shut down this favourite destination for tourists. The situation is no better at the 600 sq km Sunabeda sanctuary, which, too, poses a serious danger for tourists. Satakosia, which is not far off from Bhubaneswar, has all but become a haven for poachers and timber smugglers. Amid all this, the helpless tigers are witnessing a steady decline in their numbers. Five years ago, tiger population in Similipal, going by the state census, was 101. But in 2006-07, when the WII conducted a camera-trap census, the number was found to be abysmally low around 20. The number was not to the liking of the state government, which last year conducted its own survey again and could not take the number beyond 60. All this notwithstanding, the government’s ongoing “Project Tiger” and over Rs 12 crore spent on the conservation programme at Similipal. The Sunabeda sanctuary, where Maoist writ runs after they repeatedly attacked forest offices there last year, is claimed to have 34 tigers. Satakosia has now hardly 10 tigers, which, environment activists say, is not a “viable population” to let the animals survive for long. More so, a 2000 MW thermal power plant has been proposed on the borders of the sanctuary. Orissa had counted 226 Royal Bengal Tigers in 1993, which subsequently fell to 192 (M-57, F-75, cubs-60) by 2004. If one goes by the WII’s cameratrap census, from out of the 1,411 tigers counted across the country, Orissa accounts for not more than 54, including 20 in Similipal actually. “Fall in tiger population is a countrywide phenomenon. There is no point singling out Orissa. We are alive to the problem and taking steps accordingly for effective conservation of the animal,” said a senior forest official. “Tall talks do not protect animals. Nor generalization of a problem would lead to solution. Wildlife conservation is not a priority in Orissa where the government is obsessed with acquiring land for industrial houses,” said Biswajit Mohanty of Wildlife Society of Orissa (WSO). “There is rampant destruction of animal habitat all over the state. Large-scale mining has worsened the situation. The government is so callous that it, under the pressure of the industrial lobby, even sabotaged its own plan to create an elephant corridor for which the Central government had given the green light. In an environment like this time seems to be running out for tigers in Orissa,” he said.

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

Pullouts Vedanta sees more stake sell-offs in UK

The mining company has been criticised for "failing to respect human rights of the Dongria Kondh tribe in Orissa".

London, March 7, 2010: Indian mining giant Vedanta Resources, which has faced a series of high-profile divestments from high-profile organisations in Britain, is facing more pullouts over its human rights and environment approach, particularly in Orissa. The mining company has been criticised for "failing to respect human rights of the Dongria Kondh tribe in Orissa". The international campaign against the company -owned by Mr Anil Agarwal -has already resulted in the Church of England divesting its stake worth approximately £3.8 million and the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust and two more charities divesting £2.2 million in February. Edinburgh-based investment management company Martin Currie Investments had earlier sold £2.3 million stake in Vedanta over similar concerns. The process of divestments from Vedanta over its human rights and environment approach started with the Norwegian government's decision in 2007 to sell its shares in Vedanta due to an "unacceptable risk of complicity in current and future severe environmental damage and systematic human rights violations". Vedanta, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange, was started by Mr Agarwal in 1976. It is facing opposition from international organisations like Amnesty, Survival International and ActionAid, which have taken up the cause of Dongria Kondh tribals in Orissa. Survival, which was set up in 1969, is encouraging all shareholders, like the Universities Superannuation Scheme and several UK councils, including Wolverhampton Borough Council and Middlesbrough Borough, to pull out of Vedanta. The non-for-profit organisation has now intensified its efforts to get other institutional investors in Vedanta to pull out their money. "We targeted various investors than those who have disinvested. The fact that the Norwegian disinvestment was discussed in the Indian Supreme Court was a great incentive to our campaign," Ms Sophie Grig and Mr Jo Woodman of Survival International said.

(http://epaper.asianage.com/ASIAN/AAGE/2010/03/08/ArticleHtmls/08_03_2010_016_016.shtml?Mode=1)

Sand mining going on unabated in Mudigere

Mudigere, March 7, 2010:

Despite oppositions from various quarters, sand mining has been going on relentlessly on Hemavathi river bed in the taluk.

Mines and Geology department has identified 26 spots in the taluk where mining operation will be auctioned. According to the High Court order mining and other such activities are banned in the area of 100 metres from the river bed.  The right of auctioning lies in the hands of respective Gram Panchayats and the Mines and Geology Department will have to pay the royalty to the Government as well as the Panchayat. The Department was ready to hold auction in Hireshigara, Jenubail, Halekote, Kittalegandi, Kolur etc and as many as 468 applications were received from contractors. However, the auction was postponed due to technical reasons.  Raitha Sangha has been opposing the proposed auction procedure and has said that though illegal mining in large scale has been going on blatantly the officials are booking case against local people who come to take sand from the river bed for various purpose in small quantity. Local residents informed that illegal sand mining goes on in the night and heavy equipment along with JCBs, lorries etc. The sand thus extracted is transported to Bangalore, Mysore, Hassan, Shimoga and other places. They say that the contractors pay some nominal amount to the GPs and take loads of sand in several lorries and make profits in lakhs. The locals allege the elected representatives of supporting the sand mining mafia. However, the locals are now banking their hopes on the statement of MLA Kumaraswamy who has taken up the cause of protecting the environment by fighting against sand mining.

(Source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/56787/sand-mining-going-unabated-mudigere.html)

Rio Tinto to get mining lease for MP project soon

New Delhi, March 07, 2010: The Mines Ministry is likely to give an in-principle approval to global giant Rio Tinto for its diamond mining project in Madhya Pradesh in which the London-based firm is looking to invest around Rs 2,200 crore. "The Madhya Pradesh government has already recommended mining lease to Rio Tinto's Bunder project and now the Centre may clear it in the next 10-15 days," a senior Mines Ministry official told PTI today. When contacted, Rio Tinto India Managing Director Nik Senapati said, "We are happy to hear that mining concession is at the most advanced stage. We are looking forward to getting the environment clearances among other things soon. We are excited to be working in India." After the Mines Ministry approves the recommendation from the state for granting the lease, the company has to seek environmental and forest clearances from the Centre before starting mining. Rio Tinto is planning to invest around Rs 2,200 crore in a phased manner in the project, the Ministry official said. The Bunder project in Chhattarpur district of MP has estimated reserves of 37 million tonne. At 0.7 carat per tonne, the project would give 27.4 million carats of diamond. Also, the proposed project is in proximity to the state-owned NMDC's Panna diamond reserves. The mining project is being undertaken by the company's subsidiary Rio Tinto Diamonds and investment would be made through its domestic arm Rio Tinto Exploration India. "If the company gets all the regulatory approvals in time, the project could start by 2016 from where it is targeting to mine about 3-4 million carats per annum," the official said. Rio Tinto had got prospecting licence in 2006 and subsequently sought mining lease in June 2008. Meanwhile, the company is also planning to start the pre-feasibility study this year, which may entail an investment of up to Rs 400 crore, Rio Tinto Diamonds Managing Director Bruce Cox had earlier said. Rio Tinto has spent more than Rs 100 crore over the last five years on diamond exploration in the country and is the first foreign company to be granted prospecting licence. It had discovered a cluster of eight diamondiferous lamproites in the country. Rio Tinto is one of the world?s major diamond producers and has 100 per cent control over the the Argyle Mines in Australia, 60 per cent of the Diavik Mines in Canada and a 78 per cent interest in the Murowa Mines in Africa, according to the information available on its website.

(Source:http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/rio-tinto-to-get-mining-lease-for-mp-project-soon/87653/on)

'No nod for Goa mining projects till policy in place'

Mumbai, March 6, 2010: The central government has imposed a moratorium on granting of environment clearance for mining proposals in Goa till the state finalises its mineral policy. "No further mining clearances will be given in Goa till the Goa government approves a mining policy," Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh told reporters here today. Ramesh said the moratorium on mining proposals in Goa will continue till the state finalises its mineral policy. Goa government had earlier requested Ramesh to put on hold the environment clearances to proposals as the state was in the process of evolving a mineral policy.

(Source:http://www.ptinews.com/news/551076_-No-nod-for-Goa-mining-projects-till-policy-in-place-)

Haryana imposes ban on mining of major minerals

State to get revised industrial policy by April-end: Governor

Government identifies three early bird projects

Nuclear power project to begin during 11th Plan

Chandigarh, March 06, 2010: The Haryana Government has decided to impose a complete ban on mining of major minerals in Faridabad, Gurgaon and Mewat districts for 10 years and has initiated steps for preparation of a 30-year perspective mining plan, State Governor Jagannath Pahadia announced here on Friday. In his address to the members of the Haryana Legislative Assembly on the first day of the Budget Session here, he said this would ensure that the scarce natural resources are exploited in a judicious manner. The State Minor Mineral Concession Rules would be completely reviewed, he added. The State Government had identified three early bird projects including a Multi-modal Logistics Hub, an Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre and a Mass Rapid Transport System from Gurgaon to Bawal as a part of the mega project of Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor which was being developed along the alignment of the freight corridor running for about 1,480 km through six States. The Government would re-visit the Industrial Policy of 2005 and announce a revised one by this April-end with focus on hassle-free approvals and clearances to the entrepreneurs in an efficient and transparent manner. Mr. Pahadia said the State Government had launched the Jawahar Social Infrastructure Mission with a budget of Rs. 150 crore to create state-of-the-art schools, vocational education and training centres and State institutes for differently-abled children who were mentally challenged and suffered from impaired vision, hearing and speech. Homes for senior citizens and children in need are also being set up. Expressing satisfaction that peace has been maintained in the State and there is rule of law, he said communal harmony is intact. Several initiatives have been taken to modernise the police force and to make it high-tech. He added that a state-wide action plan was being prepared for disposal of bio-medical waste with the help of the Health Department and hospitals. Use of plastic carry bags not meeting the notified specifications had been banned and a complete ban on plastic articles had also been imposed in the historic town of Kurukshetra and other notified religious places as well as in wildlife sanctuaries, national parks and public parks. Keeping in view the ensuing Commonwealth Games, the Government is facilitating availability of over 6,500 rooms in the National Capital Region. The Governor further said that the State's revenue receipts had registered an increase of about 22 per cent from April 2009 to January 2010 over the corresponding period of the last financial year. Haryana has also witnessed a partial reversal of the adverse effects of the crisis in the current financial year. The Gross State Domestic Product is expected to grow at 8.1 per cent in 2009-10, 0.2 percentage points higher than the 2008-09 growth rate. “The State is on the path to recovery,” he asserted, adding that the Government is committed to continuing the recovery measures with renewed optimism and vigour. He added that implementation of the Nuclear Power Plant project would begin during the 11th Plan itself as the pre-project activities to set up 1,400 MW in Phase-I had been initiated by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India. While pointing out that the demand for electricity was growing rapidly in Haryana, he said that on an average the Government is supplying 907 lakh units of electricity daily to the people. A large investment has been made in the last few years to add additional 5,000 MW generation capacity enabling the State to double the availability of power by 2011-12. Mr. Pahadia also reiterated the State Government's commitment to get its legitimate share in the river waters through the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal. Efforts are being made to resolve the legal issues for operationalising the Bhakra Main Line-Hansi Branch-Butana Multipurpose link channel which had been constructed for equitable distribution of water.

(Source:http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/06/stories/2010030661750700.htm)

GPS to track illegal mineral transportation in Chhattisgarh

Kolkata/ Raipur, March 06, 2010: The Global Positioning System (GPS) would track the movement and location of rich minerals in Chhattisgarh. The move is aimed to check the illegal transportation of minerals in the state that has been endowed with valuable and rich commodities, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said. The mineral resources department in the state had been receiving complaints of illegal transportation of coal, bauxite, iron ore and other rich minerals. The department working need to be modernised to check such illegal practices and the installation of GPS will be one of the steps, Singh said. The Chief Minister had asked officials to prepare an action plan in this connection. He said guidelines and directives should be issued to the transporters to install GPS in the vehicles transporting minerals within one year. The state government would ask the state-run South Eastern Coalfields Limited, a subsidiary of Coal India Limited and the highest coal producing company in the country to instruct transporters to install GPS in the trucks carrying coal from its mines. Of the 92 coal mines under SECL, 55 are in Chhattisgarh. The company set a record in the fiscal 2008-09 when it has produced 101.15 Million Tonnes (MT) of coal. The state government is planning to install close-circuit cameras in the important mineral check posts to record the movement of vehicles. The officials have been directed to install cameras in at least 10 check posts on experiment basis, Singh said.

(Source:http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/gps-to-track-illegal-mineral-transportation-in-chhattisgarh/387684/)

High Court modifies order on sand quarrying in Palar river

The court had passed the earlier order on a petition which sought to restrain the PWD from using machinery

Chennai, March 6, 2010: The Madras High Court has modified its earlier direction to the authorities not to use any machinery for sand quarrying in Palar river bed in some villages in Kancheepuram and Tiruvannamalai districts. In its order, a Division Bench comprising Justices Elipe Dharma Rao and K.K. Sasidharan said the interim stay already granted by the court on February 23 was being modified to the effect that the respondents are permitted to carry on quarrying operations as contemplated under rule 36-A (6) of the Tamil Nadu Minor Mineral Concession Rules. As per the provision, no machinery should be used for quarrying sand from river beds, except with the permission of the Industries Secretary or any other authority or officer authorised by him in this behalf, who may grant permission if the use of machinery would not be detrimental to ecology. The court had passed the earlier order on a petition which sought to restrain the PWD from using machinery for quarrying and loading sand from the river bed. Following a petition by the Kancheepuram District Collector, the Bench modified the order. On behalf of the government, it was submitted that at present sand quarrying was being done only by the government. The government would not allow more than the permissible level for quarrying.

(Source:http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/06/stories/2010030651830400.htm)

KRRS flays illegal sand mining

Chikmagalur, March 5, 2010: Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha has opposed illegal sand mining going on blatantly on river bed of Hemavathi in Mudigere taluk.

Addressing a news conference on Friday, Sangha State Secretary M Manjunath and District General Secretary Gurushanthappa said that since the mining is going on in large scale using boats and JCBs, the cultivated land near the river faces threat of submergence. Manjunath said that sand is removed for about 15 feet in the river, which has increased the depth of the river. This may cause threat to  people who have to cross the river during rainy season.  He said that the steps built from Gonibeedu Agrahara Adi Subramanya temple to the river have been damaged due to the mining activities. Phalguni, Kittalegandi, Mugravalli, Bettadamane, Jogannanakere bridges are also under threat due to the same. “Geologists have directed to auction the sand deposits in Hemavathi river bed. Since the areas of sand deposits have not been demarcated, the sand mining mafia are trying to misuse the same,” they said and added that they have no objection to mining of sand within the legal framework.  They said that the mining land must be demarcated and sign boards must be put up and the survey number of the land where mining can be done and the extent of the land area must be displayed publicly. They demanded that use of boats and JCBs must be prohibited and if anyone is found violating the rules, their license must be confiscated and said that steps must be taken to see to it that sand in not stored in public places. 

(Source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/56430/krrs-flays-illegal-sand-mining.html)

In the high court use of machineries to quarry sand permitted

Chennai, March 5, 2010: Modifying its earlier order, a division bench of the Madras High Court on Friday permitted the contractors of the State PWD department to use machineries for quarrying sand from Palar river in Kancheepuram and Tiruvannamalai districts with the approval of the authorities concerned.  “The interim stay already granted by this court on February 23, 2010, is modified to the effect that the respondents are permitted to sand quarrying operations as contemplated under Rule 36- A(6) of the TN Minor Minerals Concession Rules,’’ the bench comprising justices Elipe Dharma Rao and KK Sasidharan said, while entertaining a petition from the Kancheepuram District Col- lector seeking to vacate the stay. Meanwhile, TN Sand Lorry Owners Association, by its president S Jayaraman and P Balakrishnan of Kuppannur in Coimbatore district, have filed petitions to implead in the case. Their counsel K Ramakrishna Reddy submitted that the daily requirement of sand for Chennai and surrounding areas was about 8,000 to 10,000 lorry loads. Each load was sold at Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 depending upon the distance. The daily requirement could be met with only with the help of poclain and JCBs. It was impossible to meet the requirement by manual operations. If the sand was quarried and loaded manually, about 1.25 lakh workers would be required per day and the current daily wage was from Rs 200 to Rs 250 per worker. If the sand was quarried and loaded manually, each lorry load would cost between Rs 12,000 and Rs 15,000.  As a result, manual quarring would affect the construction and infrastructural sector, the petition said. Because of the February 23 interim stay order, construction activities had come to a grinding halt and about one lakh workers lost jobs, Reddy contended. The bench permitted the petitioners to implead themselves in the case.

(Soure:http://epaper.expressbuzz.com/NE/NE/2010/03/06/ArticleHtmls/06_03_2010_004_057.shtml?Mode=1)

NMDC plans 3 JVs for mining

New Delhi, March 5, 2010:   NMDC plans to sign three separate joint venture agreements with Tata Power, KSK Energy and Monnet Ispat for developing coal blocks under public-private-partnership model. The country’s largest mining company shortlisted the three companies for further negotiations to start joint mining of coal in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa, two persons familiar to the development told ET. NMDC is targeting Rs 4,000 crore revenues from coal business by 2015. As per the plan, NMDC will enter into multiple partnerships by taking special purpose vehicle (SPV) route for pursuing joint development of coal mines in the country. The company intends to keep either majority or equal ownership in such partnerships.  “NMDC has set a target of having at least 2 billion tonne coal assets in the country over next five years as part of a larger exercise to expand its mineral base. The joint venture route will help in bringing some of the mines into production quickly,” said a government official privy to the development. “NMDC is looking for natural resources across the markets and plans to expand coal mining activity by taking in partners,” NMDC chairman and managing director Rana Som. But he refused to get into specifics.  Monnet Ispat and Energy executive vice-chairman and managing director Sandeep Jajodia confirmed that the company is in talks for a possible joint venture with NMDC.  “We are interested in partnering with NMDC on coal ventures. But the project has been languishing for last one year preventing us to sign any definitive agreement so far,” he said.  NMDC currently has two thermal coal blocks in Madhya Pradesh and is expects to get one more in West Bengal. It has also applied for mining leases of five new coal blocks in Chhattisgarh and a few others in Jharkhand. It has also set its eyes in coal block allocation in Orissa.  NMDC has also written to Coal India Ltd (CIL) offering to work together on some coal blocks allocated to the stateowned coal sector monopoly company. For overseas market, it is in talks with ArcelorMittal, Tatas, Rio Tinto and Spice Energy to place joint bids for mining properties. “The strategy is to weave a network of partnerships that enhance our efforts to grab a larger share of mining opportunities existing both in India and abroad,” said the government official quoted earlier. NMDC is the largest mining company in the country with iron ore production of about 30 million tonne.

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

No progress in trapping gas

Give mines back: Coal min to oilmin

New Delhi, March 5, 2010:  : The coal ministry wants to take back the mines that were offered to the oil ministry for tapping gas trapped in layers of coal — called CBM, or coal bed methane projects — on the ground that companies have not made much progress even 10 years after they were given these acreages and the country needs more coal to fuel the fast pace of economic growth. The two ministries together have so far auctioned 26 mines spread over 13,600 sq kms under the CBM policy. These mines were identified about a decade back when it was estimated that coal from such acreages would be needed 15 years later. But the pace of economic growth in the last 5-6 years has increased demand for coal for which these mines need to be brought on stream much earlier, minister of state for coal Sriprakash Jaiswal says in a letter to oil minister Murli Deora. Jaiswal says the CBM companies have managed to trace an aggregate of only 6 tcf (trillion cubic feet) gas in four mines and only one project has started commercial production. ‘‘Progress has not been satisfactory in other mines...This could be due to low confidence among operators based on the findings of exploration...,'' the letter says in support of the suggestion to withdraw these acreages wherever coal mining and CBM exploration work are seen overlapping. When these mines were delienated for CBM project, future peak coal demand was estimated at 1,000-1,200 million tonnes a year. But with the economy expanding at a rate in excess of 5-6% in the last few years, this estimate has more than doubled to 2,000-2700 million tonnes a year in the next two decades. This means the CBM mines cannot wait for companies to start pumping gas and work needs to be started now to prepare them for mining. An estimated Rs 95,000 crore investment in opencast mining and Rs 23,000 crore in underground mining will be required to attain the 2025 production target.

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

Public hearing on thermal project tumultuous

Melaperumpallam (Nagapattinam), March 5, 2010: Strong opposition, en masse walk-out condemning partisanship, and censure of media in the presence of over 500 police personnel marked the public hearing for the proposed 2X660 MW thermal power project at Thalaiudayarar Koilpati village near Thalachangdu here on Thursday.  The project is proposed by NSL Power over 530.38 hectares at a cost of Rs.5,940 crore and is expected to impact upon the villages of Melaperumpallam, Keezhaperumpallam, Thalachangadu and Vanagiri. The hearing was tumultuous from the start. While the public were cordoned off in separate enclaves, there was a section next to the press that hosted politically affiliated people and alleged supporters of the company. This drew the wrath of the public that sought to know who those “VIPs” were. Media faced public censure for misreporting the spate of thermal power project public hearings that were held in the district in the past six months. Dhanalakshmi of Vanagiri demanded conscientious reporting from the media “as it concerned their lives, their groundwater and livelihoods of landless agricultural labourers.” She demanded that the district administration and the Pollution Control Board report their mass objections.Pointing out to the functioning of Pillai Perumanallur Power Plant at Tharangambadi, Mr.Bhoominathan stated that the people had to approach the local MP to clear an appointment with the company officials to seek compensation for their agricultural lands that were rendered uncultivable by the Project. “All promises are farce, and if people's voices are not heard, it would be another Nandigram,” he said. According to Jesurethinam, convenor, Coastal Action Network, a memorandum issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests refers to some hotspots and Poompuhar is one of them. The project envisages usage of a captive power jetty that is well within the 10-km radius of Poompuhar and therefore warrants a three season data. A comprehensive EIA (Environment Impact Assessment) should have three season data, but the company has placed summer data ignoring monsoon data in its EIA, Ms.Jesurethinam said. Further, the stretch from Palayar to Kodiakkarai has been marked as olive ridley nesting sites by the forest department and this would be affected along with the fisherfolks' livelihood, Ms.Jesurethinam said. The common ire among the dissenting voices was that the proposed energy generation was for the cities at the cost of coasts without any cost-benefit analysis. A campaigner from Greenpeace sought information on the social costs that would be incurred by the local communities. “The executive summary does not mention the costs that would be incurred in terms of health. Potential acid rain caused by sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide would spiral health costs and there is no mention of it,” said Preethi from Greenpeace. Further, the efficiency of supercritical technology was just about 6 per cent more than the conventional subcritical thermal power technology. For such a high project cost, why use dirty coal and not alternative energy sources instead?” Ms.Preethi asked. Gunasekaran of Vanagiri demanded to know how the project would guarantee marine life after the diffusion of hot water from the thermal plant into the sea. Opposition was constantly interrupted by malfunctioning mikes and, finally, when the proceedings trod over the brink of violence, a large number of people walked out. As they walked out, some voices were heard in support of the Company. Veerapandian of Poompuhar placed on record the misreporting by the media and said that during the last hearing his opposition was recorded as ‘support' for the project.

(Source:http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/05/stories/2010030564220600.htm)

Coal India proposal on returning mined land makes little headway

Amendment to Coal Bearing Act yet to get Law Ministry approval.

Kolkata, March 4, 2010: It is nearly two years now since Coal India Ltd (CIL) approached the Centre for enabling a legal framework to help it return the mined land back to the community but the proposal is still doing rounds in the corridors of power. CIL (through its mining subsidiaries) holds 1.5 lakh hectares, of which nearly 20 per cent or 30,000 hectares are already mined and lying idle with the company. The proposal was forwarded by CIL to make its aggressive land acquisition plans for expansion of mining activity more acceptable, if not tolerable, to the society. CIL needs to acquire 40,000-60,000 hectares during the Eleventh Plan period (2007-12) to reach the targeted annual production capacity of 486 million tonnes by 2011-12. However, delay in land acquisition poses a major hurdle in implementing as many as 141 projects in time. In April 2008, the CIL Chairman, Mr Partha S. Bhattacharyya, told newspersons that while the company intended to return the used and reclaimed land back to the society for gainful use, the existing provisions in the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957, did not support such a move. CBA is the main vehicle for land acquisition by CIL. Following preliminary discussions with the Coal Ministry in early 2008, CIL had formed a committee to find out about the unused land bank in the possession of its seven mining subsidiaries and identify prospective amendments required in the CBA. To start with, the coal major proposed to release 500 acres in Orissa and Jharkhand. It was proposed that more land would be released in eight coal mining States , once the framework was in place. Since then there has not been much discussion in the public domain about the proposal. While repeated efforts to seek clarification from the Coal Ministry regarding the present status of the proposal were not successful, sources say that that the move has made limited headway. According to sources, based on CIL's proposal the Coal Ministry prepared a detailed note for amendment of the CBA which is still awaiting the approval of the Law Ministry. “The proposal requires creating a legal framework as well as a mechanism for returning the land. It is a time consuming process. We understand that the Centre is actively considering the same,” a CIL spokesperson told Business Line.

(Source:http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/03/05/stories/2010030552880200.htm)

Parliamentary team for Western Ghats

New Delhi, March 4, 2010: Union minister of environment Jairam Ramesh had a lengthy inter- action with 43 MPs from 51 districts that fall under the Western Ghats region. This group from the states of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Goa called the Parliamen- tary Group of Western Ghats MPs will meet regu- larly to discuss concrete measures that can be taken to stop the steady erosion of this crucial forest range.  Mr Jairam Ramesh high- lighted that the Western Ghats are being destroyed due to rampant mining, sub- mergence of vast acres of forest land under river val- ley projects and forest encroachments. Involving MPs closely will help mobilise the polit- ical process to ensure ground level participation to prevent their destruction. The minister highlighted the need to preserve the ecology of this 1,600 km stretch of Western Ghats which were home to the Godaviri, Krishna, Kaveri and Periyar rivers and were also home to several major national parks which included Borivali, Anna- malai and Periyar National Parks.

(Source:http://epaper.asianage.com/ASIAN/AAGE/2010/03/05/ArticleHtmls/05_03_2010_005_009.shtml?Mode=1)

5% CSR expenditure policy for mega units on anvil

Bhubaneswar, March 4, 2010:  The State Government seems to have developed a new policy for corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenditures of the mega industries. It follows the model laid by the Supreme Court in the case of Lanjigarh-based alumina project of Vedanta Resources. The annual CSR expenditure will not be below 5 per cent of the profit or Rs 10 crore, whichever is more. While clearing the lease of Potangi bauxite mines to Nalco, the Chief Minister has made the new policy applicable to this Nav Ratna PSU. So, by now, the new model has been applied to a private company and a Central PSU. However, there is no clear order issued to other mega industries receiving such favours as in the cases of Vedanta and Nalco. Economic analysts are of the view that the Chief Minister is bound to extend the CSR stipulations to all and sundry. New mega projects, which are coming up in the State, should also earmark 5 per cent of their profits for CSR when in production, said a social activist, adding that to force their hands it should be incorporated as a condition while favouring them with mining leases. “In fact, this should find a place in the Industrial Policy Resolution (IPR) of the State,” said a senior BJD MLA. Accordingly, an enactment might be made in the State Assembly to make it legally binding, he pointed out.

(Source:http://dailypioneer.com/239755/5-CSR-expenditure-policy-for-mega-units-on-anvil.html)

Mining issue generates heat

Bangalore: March , 3, 2010:

The illegal mining issue rocked the Legislative Council on Wednesday as accusations were hurled back and forth between the ruling party and opposition benches.

Replying to a call attention motion on the alleged flouting of rules while granting mining permits in Bellary, Home Minister V S Acharya defended saying that all permits were being granted in accordance to rules. Unhappy with this reply, Congress leader K C Kondaiah alleged that permits are being given only to companies with political clout. At this juncture Tourism Minister Janardhan Reddy made a remark against Kondaiah, raising tempers in the Opposition bench. A free-for-all followed, with members on both the sides exchanging insults freely. The Chairman’s efforts to intervene was in vain. The Opposition refused to resume business unless an apology was tendered by Reddy. Only after the Chairman admonished the Minister, the opposition members calmed down.  Kondaiah further alleged that several companies which had fallen out of favour under the new Government were finding it difficult to obtain permits to transport minerals. On the issue of allowing mining in reserve forests, Acharya defended the decision stating that the 6 blocks of forest area in Bellary, Mysore and Shimoga districts had been identified by the Congress earlier in 2003, and BJP was merely acting on the same. The Government took this decision only after ascertaining that none of these forest areas was under tree cover. “If there is a source of rich minerals in the state, don't the people deserve to enjoy its benefits?” he questioned. In the assembly, CM Yeddyurappa that the government is awaiting the consent of the forest department to permit mining in the land allotted to Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited. Replying to a call attention tabled by M P Kumaraswamy (BJP), the CM said the Centre has permitted mining by KIOCL in Hombala Ghatta and Hosahalli villages in CN halli, Tumkur in an area of 116.55 ha. The State can allow mining only if the forest department gives permission. The consent is awaited, he said.

(Source:http://www.deccanherald.com/content/56058/mining-issue-generates-heat.html)

Vishwajeet backs CM on mining policy

Says provided it allowed legal mining activities

Old Goa, March 3, 2010: Supporting Chief Minister Digambar Kamat on the new State mining policy, Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane said it is in the right direction provided it allowed legal mining activities in the State. Speaking to Herald on Tuesday, Rane said he strongly supports chief minister’s view that mining policy has to be finalised, as it is a great decision because one would get a direction to conduct mining activities with valid documents. “Legal mining is something which the chief minister wants to allow in the state and in my constituency, there are certain villages where we want mining to happen and if the people in those areas want mining to happen, then it should be allowed,” said the health minister. “Mining activities with legal permission and valid licences and clearance documents from the authorities should be allowed,” he added. “I have discussed the issue with the chief minister and the issue of mining policy will come up in the next Cabinet meeting,” stated Rane. “I think the Union minister has unilaterally put everything on hold, but the chief minister’s letter had categorically stated that the mining policy was in progress and it’s a question of another 15 days, so let the legal process move on,” said Rane. He further said every one has constitutional right and if any one wants to do mining or sand extraction, then he has a right to take it up and get it passed or rejected from the appropriate authority. “No one can keep pending or cancel anything or not discuss it, which could not happen. Mining will continue in Goa, as it contributes to the State economy to a large extent, but at the same time with the mining policy, illegal mining will come under control,” added Rane. When asked how much he was concerned about accidents, bad roads and traffic congestion in his constituency, Rane said: “That is why I was asking the chief minister that we sit with the mining community in mining areas and discuss the matter with them.” “If bypass roads are constructed through mining areas, then mining trucks will not ply through the populated areas and the problem of dust pollution, etc, will be solved,” said Rane. “But we have to ensure that the mining community contributes to the mining corridor, which is a long demand, and as I represent the constituency I will take up the issue on regular basis with the chief minister,” he added. “My appeal to the mining community is that once you have a mining corridor, then the problem of accidents and other issues related to mining like dust and heavy traffic will all come to an end,” said Rane.

(Source:http://oheraldo.in/news/Local%20News/Vishwajeet-backs-CM-on-mining-policy/34212.html)

RS told on M’laya uranium

New Delhi, March 3, 2010: Despite stiff opposition from the environmentalists and local people, the Centre seems to be going ahead with the proposed mining of uranium in West Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. Replying to a question during Question Hour in Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Prithviraj Chavan said the Uranium Corporation of India (UCI) has proposed new uranium mines and processing plants, one each in Meghalaya and Andhra Pradesh. "It (UCI) proposed to set up new mines and processing plant at Lambapur-Peddagattu in the Nalgonda district of Andhra Pradesh and at Kylleng Pyndengsohiong Mawthabah in West Khasi Hills district, Meghalaya," he said. In reply to another question, Mr Chavan said that the centre was 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," he said.

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

Meghalaya nod for independent panel

Guwahati, March 3, 2010: In its efforts to end the ongoing impasse over the controversial Uranium mining issue in Meghalaya, the State Government on Tuesday said it was open to an independent panel of experts to examine the entire gamut of the problem, particularly the hazards of radiation. This was decided at the first meeting of the newly constituted Joint Committee on Uranium Mining in Meghalaya (JCUMM) under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister Bindo M Lanong, who is also in charge of Mining and Geology, here on Tuesday.  The anti-nuke groups, such as influential Khasi Students Union (KSU) and Coordination of Committee of Social Organisations (CCSO), which are part of the JCUMM, however, stayed away from the meeting as the State Government had also invited a ‘pro-uranium’ organisation – Association of Meghalaya for Development Advancement (AMDA) - in the discussion. “We have decided to invite experts from various independent research institutes related to nuclear science and application to offer its views on the questions raised by several anti-mining organisations, especially the problems of human health and environment associated with radiation,” JCUMM chairman Lanong told The Pioneer from Shillong. He said the committee had also decided to visit the proposed uranium mining areas, as well as other sites where the Atomic Mineral Division (AMD) had carried out exploratory mining over a decade ago, to ascertain whether there were any visible adverse effects on local population and the environment. “We will also hear the views of the local population living around the proposed project area,” Lanong said. KSU and several other civil rights and human rights activist groups had been opposing the proposed Rs 1,000 crore open cast uranium mining and processing project by UCIL at Mawthabah area in the West Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya, citing hazards of radiation on human health and environment.  Last year, with approval of the State Government when UCIL began some pre-mining development activities in the proposed site at Mawthanbah, it was met with stiff resistance from the anti-mining groups, leading to a series of protests and agitations. Under pressure, the State Government on November 4 constituted a joint committee (JCUMM) comprising representatives from groups opposing the mining, a group of ministers, state officials and experts from Northeastern Hill University (NEHU) to thrash out all the contentious issues. The State had also halted all pre-mining activities.  

(Source:http://dailypioneer.com/239417/Meghalaya-nod-for-independent-panel.html)

Orissa gives mines on lease to Nalco

Bhubaneswar, March 3, 2010: The Orissa government has cleared the proposal to lease a new bauxite mine in the southern district of Koraput to National Aluminimum Company Limited (Nalco), a central Navaratna public sector undertaking.  The state government gave the nod to Nalco for the Pattangi mines after a decade. The new mine is estimated to have bauxite reserve of over 70 million tonnes. The new mine is close to the Nalco’s existing bauxite mines at Panchpatmali.   The bauxite reserve in Panchpatmali mines, which feeds the present Nalco refinery at Damonjodi in Koraput district, is expected to last for only 20 years. Nalco desperately needed this new reserve to meet the future needs of its Damanjodi refinery. “The Pattangi mines will be made operational within 3 years”, a senior Nalco official said. Last year, Nalco had received clearance from the centre for exploring a bauxite mine in Andhra Pradesh.

(Source:http://www.asianage.com)

Quarrying minerals not a fundamental right: court

Madurai, March 3, 2010: “There is no fundamental right to quarry minerals of whatever kind. But people who want to quarry seem to be labouring under a misconception that there is such a right,” begins a judgement passed by the Madras High Court Bench here. It goes on to read: “The State permits quarrying by grant of licence and regulates the extraction of minerals. The State undoubtedly has the right to even curb quarrying. It may do so because of over exploitation or environmental damage.” Justices Prabha Sridevan and B. Rajendran made the observations while allowing a writ appeal filed by the Kanyakumari Collector against a single judge's order extending the licence of a mining contractor who had already quarried for five years. Writing the judgement, Ms. Justice Sridevan said: “Rocks which have been standing as witnesses to history are cut up like bread loaves by Man. Rapaciousness blinds him to the Truth that Nature may have the last laugh.” Stating that the Courts could also stop quarrying in public interest, the Bench said that “some times even if ultimately the main petitions fail due to lack of merit, the petitioners are found to have happily achieved their ends by the interim orders.” Hence, it must be borne in mind that public interest would suffer due to unwarranted orders passed against the Government which holds natural resources such as water, minerals and forests in trust for the citizens of “today and many many tomorrows.” In the present case, the mining contractor was originally holding a lease for quarrying stones between 1999 and 2004. Claiming that quarrying could not be conducted during the lease period, he filed a writ petition seeking extension for a few more years. The High Court in 2005 accepted his plea and extended the lease till 2008. Subsequently, he sought extension for five more years on the basis of an amendment made to Rule 8(8) of the Tamil Nadu Minor Mineral Concession Rules in November 2000. The amendment stated that the period of lease for quarrying stones in respect of virgin areas, which had not be been subjected to quarrying earlier, shall be 10 years and not just five years as was granted to the present contractor in 1999. Allowing another writ petition filed by the contractor last year, a single judge of the High Court on July 25, 2009 directed the Kanyakumari Collector to extend the lease period and hence the present writ appeal. Interpreting Rule 8(8), the Division Bench said that the 10 year block period mentioned in its amendment would commence from 1999 and therefore, the contractor's lease period should be deemed to have expired in 2009 itself. Giving an illustration, the judges said that a lease given to a contractor in January 1999 would come to an end in December 2003. However, it could be extended up to December 2008 by giving the benefit of the amendment which came into effect in 2000. “If because of Court's directions, for whatever reason, he had continued to quarry up to 2007 notwithstanding the fact that his period expired in 2003, he cannot be heard to say that he will get five more years from 2007,” they clarified.

(Source: http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/03/stories/2010030351890200.htm)

Change in EIA clearance to coal mines in India

Monday, 01 Mar 2010: Mr Jairam Ramesh minister of state for environment and forests informed in a written reply to a question by Mr Pradeep Majhi and Dr Mahendrasinh P Chauhan in Lok Sabha that the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006 was amended on 01.12.2009. As per 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 the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the State level Environmental Impact Assessment Authority respectively.

(Source:http://steelguru.com/news/index/MTM0ODM4/Change_in_EIA_clearance_to_coal_mines_in_India.html)

Abhijeet Group plans green coal mining in Jharkhand

Monday, 01 Mar 2010: Abhijeet Group, which has tied up with a Canada based company, is seeking to bag a mining contract in Jharkhand's Ramgarh district where it plans to introduce an environment friendly and economic method of coal extraction called Energy Coal Gasification Technology or UCG. A company official said that the Coal Mining and Planning Development of India, an undertaking of Coal India Limited had sought expression of interest from companies for UCG for the Kaitha coal block situated in Ramgarh district. Mr AK Srivastav director of Abhijeet Group told IANS that “We are making efforts to get the coal block for UCG as we are the first Indian company having this technology for commercial purpose. We have tied up with Ergo Energy Technology Inc of Canada which has expertise in commercial utilization of UCG.” According to Mr Srivastav, “In India only 21% reserve of coal is extractable by the present mining technologies, and this way coal reserves of around 75 million tonnes cannot be extracted as they are below 300 meters. Under UCG technology, the coal mining cost reduces by 37%.” He added that “If we get the coal block then Abhijeet Group will be the first company in the country to utilize UCG technology for commercial purposes.”  Mr Srivastav further said that “The UCG technology offers solution to safe, environment friendly and economic mining of coal reserves which otherwise are not mineable by conventional mining methods.” Under UCG technology, the coal which cannot be extracted after a certain depth is utilized and used for commercial purposes for the power and steel sector.

(Source:http://steelguru.com/news/index/MTM0ODI3/Abhijeet_Group_plans_green_coal_mining_in_Jharkhand.html)