Sent: Tue, 29 Nov 2011 12:43:20
To: "justicembshah.icim@gmail.com" <justicembshah.icim@gmail.com>
Cc: "onas09 Nagarik " <onas09@gmail.com>, "onas " <onas@gmail.com>
Subject: JUSTICE MB SHAH COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY
Tele: 9437054239 29 Nov 11
Submission before
Shri Justice MB Shah Commission of Enquiry
Bunglow No 13. Opp Anticorruption Bureau, Dupanala Sahi, Ahmedabad38004
Whereas,
Kendujhar Citizens' Forum, an apolitical body of enlightened well wishers of Kendujhar, its land and people, is very seriously concerned about the way the mining industry has grown exponentially during last decade, showing little or no concern for Environment (both physical and social), sustainability, DIDR (Dev induced Displacement and Rehabilitation), and blatant violation of almost all laws pertaining to mining industry, leading to many a scam,
Whereas,
All agencies of Government, both Central and State, responsible to control and direct the activities of mining and all other related activities, have, by their acts of commission and omission, not only brought about loss of public revenue, and wanton misuse of important strategic natural resources, but also brought profound distress to Kendujhar, its soil, water, air and biosphere, including forests, animals and human beings,
And finally whereas,
All efforts made by this forum to contain, limit, mend, the ways of all these agencies, namely state and district administration, mining, forest, environment, pollution, water resources, transport and such other departments, all for the cause of Kendujhar, its people, and their life and living here, have never been given a proper hearing or attention as the genuine voice of a distress community, at the receiving end of many a false/deceptive promises
We seek an opportunity to be heard by the Honourable Commission of Inquiry, during their their field visit to our district, at any time and venue, suitable.
Recently, on news reports that Govt of Odisha have finally realized theLargescale environmental degradation of the entire mining area attributable to mindless mining with little or no concern for 'Sustainability' of a strategic natural resource, where 'Short sighted' commercial interest has taken the upper hand.
Our Forum, re-examined the mining activities for one last time last month, in the entire left bank of Baitarani River from Basant pur to Dubna and then along Polasponga-Joda road, a distance of about 50 km up to Barbil. We totally agree with the assessment of the Govt of Odisha as reported in the press and have the following opinions to offer for the consideration of this high level commission of Inquiry:-
a. The entire area should be declared as an area of 'Total Environmental disaster' till the mending of the current situation is in place.
b. 'Indian Bureau of Mines' entrusted with the responsibility of EMP as per MCDR-88 have to review their approach to scientifically balance the production and environmental load, before exercise of their power of annual clearance/ permission etc.
c. IBM and DGMS have to re-examine the over burden dumps which are the main source of the environmental and safety hazard. Basic needs of limits of height, slope, and vegetation cover, trenches, garland canal and such other needs have to necessarily in place before authorizing the limits of production, and not vice versa. The basic desire of the miner to declare the low grade mineral as overburden shows a criminal intent, leading to not only large scale wastage of a natural resource, but also create the problem of massive dumps of dangerous proportion.
d. All normal overburden dumps are 'Forestable land' because they are basically from the top soil, mainly endowed with humus content, above the ore layers.. As all forest experts know, the trees hold a lot of water by capillary action, reduce the surface temperature by providing shades against evaporation loss of sub-soil water, and grip the soil much better against erosion by rain water. Planting of grass or shrubs of local variety provide only mild supplements to the protection of soil cover. The unchanged 'Forest Kisam' in Mining lease area, and restoration of its 'Eco-system' with all its 'Bio-diversity' (wild life, birds, to white ants included) is a very specialist job to be attended to by knowledgeable forest experts/officials. This is one responsibility of the Mines Manager which is overtly neglected on commercial compulsion.
e. Mining and deforestation are at the root of the 'Descent of ground water level' and dried up stream in the entire Baitarani basin, except the protected 'Simlipal biosphere' on its left bank. There is a need to induct science through hydrologists, soil scientists, civil engineers and others to revive and restore the entire upper Baitarani basin back to a rich one, thriving on agricultural and allied activities. May be investment in thousands of check dams, the old traditional wisdom of our farmers, will become an investment in 'Sustainability' when our 'Non-renewable' sources slowly come to an end.
f. The 'Red' coloured rain water flowing out of the ill-designed mining activities along the entire left side catchment area of Baitarani River is carried by a large number of tributaries and streams. The deep red colour of the river water is due to the presence of high level of Iron ore fines ( measured as high as 1kg/KL by a study commissioned by Kanupur Dam Project) which have reached the fertile planes of lower Baitarani basin this year through extensive flood. This deposit may have possible adverse effect on the soil fertility of the flood plains. This calls for a deeper scientific study.
g. The team also observed that around the Raiway sidings for Iron ore, including the unauthorized one at Kendujhargarh station, thousands of acres of quality cultivable lands has been used for temporary storage yard of Iron ore, mainly ore fines. The left over ores, left permanently in the fields, have rendered the otherwise fertile land perpetually unproductive. The poor and ignorant farmers might have surrendered to the pressure from the transporters for a few coins more, but the damage is no doubt environmentally 'Irreversible' for the livelihood of the farmers.
h. 'Forest' is a subject in the concurrent list, and the actual permissions are granted by Central Govt for 'Mining in the Forest area'. But the extensive terms and conditions stipulated in those "Environmental Clearances" appear to be only exercise in "legal Defense', than any shade of sincerity in implementation. Large number of addressees in the clearance letters have little or no role to play in enforcing those terms and conditions. When the actual ML holders also abdicate their responsibility, and effectively out source all their activities to contractors through all kinds shady agreements, the silent forests and the benign environment become the victims. Such lack of concern is visible throughout the 250 sq km of mining lease area in this region.
Our Forum strongly feels that scientists and specialists will be in a far better position to appreciate the extent of damage not only inside the lease area but in the entire so called "Spill Out" effect on the whole of the district and stretched beyond to the flood plains of Coastal Odisha. Our members would like to re-iterate the urgent need for a "Regional Environmental Plan" by an Institute of national repute. The cost of restoration of the Environment has to be borne from out of the surplus of the mining activity.
As the affected resident citizens of this district, we submit this to the 'High powered Commission of Inquiry', and seek an opportunity to be heard, for the cause of our environment as well as sustainability of the nations' strategic resources.
Yours Truly,
(Kiran Sankar Sahu)
Wing Commander (Retd)
President, for and on behalf of All Members of Citizens' Forum
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