Karnataka government sets ball rolling for mine auction but greens won’t give up
Ballari: Even as local environmental groups protest against the handing over of virgin and lush green forests in Sandur of this ore-rich district for private mining, the state government has directed the departments concerned to complete the process of survey and demarcation of forests areas identified for auction at the earliest.
At a meeting, chaired by the Chief Secretary Kaushik Mukherjee at Bengaluru on Wednesday, Ballari deputy commissioner Sameer Shukla, deputy conservator of forest Takat Singh Ranawat and authorities of the mines and geology department were directed to intensify the joint su-rvey in the ore-rich forests of Sandur. According to sources, Mr Mukherjee was not convinced by the explanation given by the district authorities that survey and demarcation work was delayed due to incessant rainfall as the surveyors were unable to identify the forest boundary marks. He directed officials to deploy more men and machines to complete the task at the earliest.
At an earlier meeting held on May 23, he had directed the forest, mines and revenue department to commence the survey of forest blocks identified for auction and submit a report by June 15. Sources said the state government is under pressure from the Centre to identify ore-deposits and throw it open for private mining through competitive bidding as per the amended Mines and Minerals (Development) Regulation Act 2015.
According to sources, the government has identified 22 blocks in Sandur forests spread across 11, 000 hectares for private mining. But, the government’s decision has now angered local environmental groups, since these were the same forest blocks notified in a controversial order issued by the S.M. Krishna government, in two separate Government Orders dated March 15, 2003 notifying additional forest areas for mining.
Former Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde in his report on illegal mining had described in detail the irregularities committed in the preparation of these two GOs. Lokayukta issued notices of Inquiry to three individuals, V. Muniyappa, then Minister of Mines, Ashok Dalwai, then Secretary (Commerce and Industry) and M. Basappa Reddy, then Director, Mines & Geology responsible for three GOs. In his reply Ashok Dalwai admitted to oversight, errors in translation and error in preparation of the list of lands meant for dereservation.
Then high court judge Shylendra Kumar had actually visited these forests on August 4, 2007 and seeing the forests which were erroneously described as “bereft of tree cover” by the Mining Secretary, observed: “Allowing mining activity to be carroed out in a lush, rich, virgin forest areas like this comprising of rare species of plant and animals and many of them endangered ones, is nothing but committing rape of mother earth- a crime against humanity and is an act which is is required to be prevented by any responsible government.”
Centre to states: Get the auctions going
Regretting that states have not auctioned even a single mine despite a clear minerals policy framework, the Centre has asked them to expedite the auction process for iron ore, bauxite, limestone and others, a top official said on Thursday.
"One month down the rule, not one mine has been auctioned anywhere in any state... I can take a horse to water but whether the horse will drink water or not I have no control," Mines Secretary Anup K Pujari said. The Centre is in constant touch with states on the issue as the Mines and Mineral Ordinance was issued on January 12, while the notification was made on March 27 and Rules were published on May 27, Pujari said, addressing the 4th India Minerals & Metals Forum" by ICC.
"We are trying to tell state governments please go ahead with auctions... Please realise that auction of coal is done by the centre and auction of mines will be done by state governments," Pujari said. He also expressed disappointment that non-captive mines have failed to begin production despite the government extending forest and environment clearance to them till March 31, 2020. "We are trying to bring in transparency. I feel very odd that all the non captive mines have not begun production despite their tenure of lease extended to March 31, 2020," Pujari said.
He added: "On April 1, 2020 non captive mines will come up for auction as of now. That is law. If you are a reasonable and rational human being, reasonable entrepreneur what will you do. If you have not done any malpractice, you will start production.. You should be able to start your mines tomorrow. I would like to understand from you what is it that is preventing it from happening. Why non captive mines are not producing. What is it that is stopping them." The Centre has also said that to reopen such mines, companies do not require either a fresh forest or environment clearance, he said.
