Saving the tribe
After a long drawn-out consultation process, the Union government has finally pronounced its verdict against Vedanta Alumina’s $1.7-billion plan to mine bauxite in the Niyamgiri Hills of Orissa.
“There has been a very serious violation of the Environment Protection Act, the Forest Conservation Act and the Forest Rights Act,” said Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh.
He blamed Vedanta, the Orissa Mining Corporation, and State officials for the violations. “The clearance stands rejected.”
Mr. Ramesh accepted the recommendation of the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) to withdraw the Stage I forest clearance, granted in 2008, and reject the Stage II clearance that the promoters had applied for. In the light of this, the environmental clearance will also become invalid.
In a further blow to Vedanta’s plans in the region, the Ministry will nvestigate the allegation that bauxite for Vedanta’s Orissa refinery is being sourced from 14 Jharkhand mines, of which at least 11 do not have a valid environmental clearance.
The Ministry is also issuing a show-cause notice, threatening cancellation of the licence given to the refinery itself, which has illegally grabbed village forest lands and carrying out a six-fold expansion without permission.
The appraisal process of the expansion has been suspended.
The FAC’s recommendation was based on the N.C. Saxena Committee report that detailed the violations and the adverse impact of the project on the local Dongria Kondh tribal community and biodiversity in the region.
The Orissa Forest Secretary met Mr. Ramesh on Tuesday to voice the State
government’s objections to the report. He also reiterated the argument put forth by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik that the Supreme Court’s August 2008 ruling in favour of an in-principle clearance made the final clearance a fait accompli.
“No Ministry can abdicate its responsibility of enforcing the laws passed by Parliament,” said Mr. Ramesh, citing the Attorney-General’s opinion that he was free to decide on final clearance despite the Supreme Court ruling.
“My Ministry cannot function on the basis of fait accomplis… Since August 2008, a lot of new information has come to light. It is on the basis of this incriminating new evidence that the decision has been taken.”
Among the new information is the State government’s failure to implement the Forest Rights Act, which protects the community rights of forest-dwellers, especially tribals.
Instead, the Saxena Committee found that district administration officials deliberately submitted documents faking the consent of gram sabhas.
Keywords: Vedanta project, environmental clearance, land acquisition
Comments:
This is the first environment minister who has come out boldly against these mining MNCs destroying our lands
Congratulations to Mr Jairam Ramesh for the right decision.
After a long time we find a Minister standing up ! Great ! But will this survive, is the moot question. Having seen the way Congress Governments have operated, it is very much on the cards that the private company will "present" new "facts", in "proper perspective", after which the Government will be "fully" satisfied and issue the required permissions.
I am overjoyed to read this news!
I presently live in Australia where a mountain exists in the center of Australia known as 'Uluru'. This mountain is regarded as sacred by the local communities. Forget mining, even climbing the mountain is seen as an act of disrespect, and thousands of tourists recognise this importance and learn how to respect the site before getting there.
Vedanta's operations in India has the audacity to trample the law, local belief, environment, and the lives of the people to pursue its goals(primarily -Profit).
I totally regard the decision of Jayaram Ramesh and encourage the ministry to eliminate all operations of this company from Orissa.
There are many more industrial projects which need to be shown the door. Request MoEF continue to show spine and act right.
India should always be careful in Mining issues, there are serious violations of forests and tribals across India.
Our neighbouring county is facing floods and we also face lots of imbalance in climate, we deserve better forests, clean water plus clean air.
In this way we are losing the foreign investment in India. We never heard any plan from Environment dept for environment protection, such as green development, landscaping, recycling etc.
The ethical and courageous decision of the Ministry for Environment and Forests is commendable. It is such courage that instills hope in the minds of the citizens of this country. It is our utmost duty to protect and pass on these natural bioreserves to the future India. As an Indian, I want my history, culture, and environment to be protected as they are irreplaceable. Our national leaders must reinforce our beliefs in our values system and ethics rather than focussing on just money, GDP and more money. I sincerely hope that the perpetrators are penalized and made to pay for repairing the damages.
It is very easy to reject such a big project by simply saying that forest and environment is at risk. It is advisable to thoroughly investigate that how it is detrimental for the environment and I believe that there is a solution or other alternatives to every problem.
Please make a serious effort to find an alternative since this project can provide jobs to lot of poor people who otherwise are dislocating from their hometown to places like Delhi, Mumbai and other big metros which are suffering from the menace of over population.
Well done Jairam Ramesh. One of the best ministers in the cabinet, along with Kapil Sibal and P Chidambaram.
Dear Sanjeev ji,
If someone tell you I will leave at your home for rent after some days he killed your family member and you know in future he may kill you ,What you will do .I think you aren't a foolish that keep this people.Which company done everything without law.In the money power he sold all officer of state.I think immeditaly kickout this type of useless company.Well done by Jai Ramramesh.
Basically, Jayaram Ramesh is True Politician, normally no Neta does not have interest on people other than money and Chair.Saying no to a project is very easy, any lay man can do that, but providing a solution for that is only a wise amn can do. As per Jayaram and Rahul Gandi the 1- Kondh people should not have light for ever. 2- They should always eat forest source but they (both) can enjoy life with all types of hygenic.3- According to both Rahul and Jaya Konhd people should not go the Hospital for tratment because they have Niyam Thakurani. These all are real motive of Congress. I have few Questions If We should not encourage the industrialisation that why we dit not accept the Anti global warming conditions what America and west were putting on us? Because we know for Development it is amust. Our so called neta should give us solutions to utilise out resources instead of putting off a project. But what ever your do NO ONE CAN STOP ODISHA TO DEVELOP. SAME KONDH PEOPLE ONE DAY WILL SAY YES TO NIYANGIRI.