Google map of Saranda salforest, the affected areas and the mines. Photo: The Hindu
A villager at Saranda in West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, collecting drinking water from the Koina river which hashigh iron content.Photo: Manob Chowdhary
A view of the Koina river. The water is unsuitable for drnking due to high iron-content. Photo: Manob Chowdhary
A view of the SAIL's Rs. 4.23 crore slime beneficiation machine, which is meant to extract iron ore from the Koina river water and discharge the water back into the river. The machine has not worked for years. According to SAIL officials, the non-functioning machine is one of the reason for the increased pollution of Koina river. Photo: Manob Chowdhary
The Saranda forest is the catchment of three large rivers — Koina, Subarnrekha, and Damodar, and several streams flow through it. Photo: Manob Chowdhary
Laguda Devgam, Manki (community head) of 22 village in Saranda forests. These non-electrified villages depend on solar power. Photo: Manob Chowdhary
Laguda Devgam shows the solar light, donated by a private mining company. Photo: Manob Chowdhary
Three solar street light poles towering on three sides of a house – the only streetlights in the otherwise non-electrified villages in Saranda. They are inscribed as gifts from Rungta Mines Limited, Usha Martin Industries, and Tata Steel. Photo: Manob Chowdhary