MoEF panel favours bauxite mining in Vizag tribal area

Yet-to-be-made public report dismisses environmental concerns

Published on:

01 Jun 2012, 10:31 am

The high-level committee set up by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to study the socio-economic and ecological impacts of the proposed bauxite mining in Andhra Pradesh’s Visakhapatnam district has submitted its final report favouring mining. The committee concludes mining will not have any significant negative impact on the ecology. At the same time it recommends settling all claims under the Forest Rights Act and getting approval of the Andhra Pradesh Tribes Advisory Council before going ahead with mining plans.

Committee’s observations

• Mining is far above ground water level and provision of garland drains and other measures will contain surface runoff and in turn stream pollution

• There is no direct displacement of people

• There is no vegetation in bauxite areas because of rocky out crop and adverse factors

• There are no significant eco-sensitive areas

• There is no threat as such to any primitive community

• No historical or cultural monuments affected

• The proposed programme of remedial measures and safeguards seem adequate for containing the adverse impact of mining on environment in general and forest and wildlife in particular as long as they are implemented properly

political parties and non-profits against the mining plans

According to the MoUs, APMDC would supply Jindal 4.5 million tonnes of bauxite each year from the Sapparala and Araku deposits, which have about 240 million tonnes of ore deposits, spread over 2,446 hectares (ha), and 3.8 million tonnes of ore to to ANRAK from Jerrala deposits, spread over 1,212 ha with a bauxite reserve of 224 million tonnes. The ANRAK project got environmental clearance and in-principle stage one forest clearance for diverting 1,212 ha forests in 2008. The other blocks are under the consideration of the forest advisory committee.

'Mining will bring development'

The committee was unable to come to a conclusion about the socio-economic impacts of mining on the lives of the tribes because it could not interact with the tribal communities living in the mining area. During the first visit in Araku region by two members of the committee in October last year, a bandh was called by Maoists. During the second visit in December last year, a three-day bandh was observed by tribal organisations and political parties. The committee could make only an aerial survey of the Jerrela groups of deposits.

What it recommends

• Gramsabha or the Panchayat at appropriate level located within 10 km radius of the mining area should be consulted as per PESA Act and Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Act 1998, (Act 7 of 1998)

• All eligible claims under Forest Rights Act of 2006 be settled

• Approval of Andhra Pradesh Tribes Advisory Council, which is a constitutional body under the Fifth Schedule to advise Government on all matters relating to tribals, be taken

Mining pits will help recharge water: panel

Land records and forest rights

According to the surveys conducted by the rural development department, the state of land records is in very poor state, the report notes. Some tribes with land have no title deeds while those given titles under the state's land assignment programme were not shown their land. Large areas in Chitapally region, where the Jerella deposits are located, are yet to be surveyed.

Further, under the Forest Rights Act, 39,322 claims out of 52,986 claims in Visakhapatnam were approved by the district-level committee by October 2011, covering an area of 75,911 ha. Of this, in 35,780 cases, 71,328 ha has been distributed. Claims of 13,953 persons are yet to be settled, notes the committee. The committee recommends settling of all the claims before giving second stage forest clearance.

The high level committee concludes by saying that even though India has 16 per cent of the world’s total bauxite reserves, the country’s contribution to total aluminium production in the world (35 million tonnes ) is a mere 3 per cent (one million tonnes). The projected demand for aluminium is expected to rise to 8 per cent in next two years , and hence, according to the committee, “there is a demand for development of deposits in Andhra Pradesh to supply raw bauxite to the value added units coming up in backward tracts of state.”

While the MoEF panel has pushed for mining in Visakhapatnam's tribal areas, the Union ministry of mines has decided to return mining proposals to the state government for further consideration. This was announced by minister of mines with independent charge, Dinsha Patel, in the Lok Sabha on May 18.

forest rights act