CSE's mining book releases
Date: March 7, 2009 CSE’s report on mining – Rich Lands Poor People – released in Rajasthan
Date: March 7, 2009 CSE’s report on mining – Rich Lands Poor People – released in Rajasthan
Note by the Centre for Science and Environment, based on extensive research published in its book, Rich Lands, Poor People: is ‘sustainable mining possible? August 2010
India’s richest lands – with minerals, forests, wildlife and water sources – are home to its poorest people. Mining in India has, contrary to government’s claims, done little for the development of the mineral-bearing regions of the country: says the latest publication from New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) -- its 356-page 6th State of India’s Environment. Report, titled Rich Lands, Poor People -- Is Sustainable Mining Possible?
India’s richest lands – with minerals, forests, wildlife and water sources – are home to its poorest people. Mining in India has, contrary to government’s claims, done little for the development of the mineral-bearing regions of the country: says the latest publication from New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) – its 356-page 6th State of India’s Environment Report, titled Rich Lands, Poor People -- Is Sustainable Mining Possible?
The CSE report was released in Raipur on May 20, 2008 by the governor of Chhattisgarh, E S L Narsimhan. The report’s contents had forced the state government to issue a 12-page comment, which claimed that the book contained “a large number of factual inaccuracies, sweeping remarks and unfounded criticism of the state government based on conjectures and surmises”.
Shillong, October 20, 2008: The hands-off approach of the Meghalaya government towards the state’s rat-hole coal mines is fuelling destruction of forests, farmlands and water sources in the state: say the writers of Rich Lands, Poor People -- Is Sustainable Mining Possible?.
Unregulated legal mining and rampant illegal mining in Rajasthan has systematically destroyed forests, devastated the Aravallis, and played havoc with the water resources of the state, says Centre for Science and Environment’s Sixth State of India’s Environment report, “Rich Lands, Poor People” – Is sustainable mining possible?
And, perhaps, its Waterloo. With the Union ministry of environment and forests refusing to allow the company to mine bauxite in Orissa's Niyamgiri hill, the UK-based mining giant's troubles have multiplied. The quest to resolve all disagreements regarding the company's Lanjigarh alumina refinery project and its mining rights had brought none less than the Orissa chief minister scurrying to Delhi -- to convince the prime minister to push forward the controversial industrial project. The prime minister did not oblige.
Mining in Goa is mostly concentrated in four talukas namely, Bicholim in North Goa district and Salcete, Sanguem and Quepem in South Goa district. Some 400 mining leases had been granted in Goa till 2002-03, covering approximately 30,325 ha -- this works out to almost eight per cent of the total geographical of the state.
Mining giant Vedanta is all set to diversify into steel business. Sesa Goa Ltd in which Vedanta has the controlling share, has begun negotiations with Japanese and European companies to set up a steel plant in India.
Bangalore, Karnataka, August 4, 2008: India’s richest lands – with minerals, forests, wildlife and water sources – are home to its poorest people. Mining in India has, contrary to government’s claims, done little for the development of the mineral-bearing regions of the country.
CSE was invited to present its findings of the mining sector in India before the Group of Ministers.
Every chair of the community hall of the Shree Shantadurga temple in South Goa’s Quepem taluka was taken. In a few minutes, the public hearing for Shakti bauxite mines was to begin. Then there arose a whisper: the temple had objected to the hearing being held in their premises; it was being called off. It was the second time the hearing was convened and this time, too, the villagers told us, the 30-day notice rule had been violated.