(IN)Right to destroy:Greens say forest, wildlife governed by laws not villagers

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Greens say forest, wildlife governed by laws not villagers

Vijay Pinjarkar2 October 2009, 03:27am IST

 

NAGPUR: Even as section of villagers have showed their readiness to Adani coal

mines proposed to come up in Lohara-Junona reserve forest belt

adjoining Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), greens term it as a calculated

move by the mining lobby to influence villagers, who have no ownership rights on

the forest area.

 

On Wednesday, sarpanchs of Lohara and Borda gram panchayats held a press

conference in the city declaring support to Adani mines for which 1750 hectare

land of which 1573.56 hectare dense forest land and additional expanse of 500

hectare for dumping over-burden, will be diverted. However, on Thursday greens

pooh-poohed claim of the villagers saying it is not the interest of a couple of

villages but question of lives of four lakh people of Chandrapur.

 

" We must realise that we are trustees of everything nature has given and not

owners. Only with this realisation will we be able to leave a healthy

environment for the future generations. If the Adani mines are allowed, we will

be moving into a situation from `past perfect' to `future tense', " remarked

environmentalist Vijay Lapalikar, who has been vehemently opposing the Adani

mines.

 

Conservationist Prafulla Bhamburkar was of the view that villagers are being

misled. The so-called NGOs are opposed to relocating villages inside the tiger

reserves but are forcing people outside to leave.

 

" Extensive coal mining has already polluted Chandrapur and destroyed environment

creating problems for citizens. There is no further scope to switch over to such

hazardous projects in the same area, " said Bhamburkar.

 

He countered the claim of sarpanchs that the proposed coal blocks are faraway

from Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR). Two compartments of Adani fall in the

buffer zone of TATR. " It looks as if the villagers are speaking on behalf of

Adani by saying that the company will take care of all environmental issues. The

sarpanchs should check the dismal track record of other mining companies already

operating in the area, " Bhamburkar stressed.

 

Tiger conservationist Kishor Rithe said the villagers may be favourable as they

can be influenced anytime but laws cannot. The forest to be diverted is not

their property. There are certain legislations and policies to govern wildlife

and forests. " Villagers are talking in short-term but what about their future

generations? " Rithe asked.

 

Environmentalist Seema Sahu said the villagers came a long way to Nagpur to

address the media, specially when the petition against Adani was being heard on

Wednesday. Who brought them here? This should be investigated. She said if

villagers want Adani mines they should seek relief from the high court as the

matter is under subjudice.

 

Yogendra Dudpachare of Green Planet, Chandrapur, said, " We've adopted certain

constitutional policies to protect and conserve our heritage and values for

future generations. When lot of scope and avenues are available to the locals

from forests, why should it be sacrificed for a few people lured by money. "

 

Bandu Dhotre of Eco-Pro says villagers are not able to understand the game. Once

the Adani proposal gets clearance from ministry of environment and forest

(MoEF), it will open floodgates to other mining companies which are in the

pipeline for coal excavation from areas adjacent to the TATR.

 

Sonia asks to probe coal block allotment

 

Nagpur: In a new twist to the Adani mine issue in Lohara, Congress president

Sonia Gandhi has directed coal minister Sriprakash Jaiswal to look into the

allotment of coal blocks to Adani group in Lohara core zone near TATR. On August

27, defence minister AK Antony wrote to Jaiswal making reference of a letter

written by MP Vijay Darda on August 7, pointing out adverse affects of mining

near Chandrapur. Environmentalist Seema Sahu had written to Darda and

highlighted various problems people would suffer if coal mines are allowed near

TATR. Darda had even demanded to send a high power committee to Chandrapur and

explanation from coal ministry on the said allotments to Adani.

 

 

 

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Compassionate Crusaders Trust

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