State to adopt Kerala model to lift ban on mining

Besides Kerala,Rajasthan too claimed it made amendments to state rules to overcome the MoEF blanket ban on mining. Both the states sought to exercise their discretionary powers on mining.

Environment Minister Sanjay Deotale said: “By September end,we plan to modify our mining rules and restore mining activities by including safeguards as recommended by the MoEF and the Supreme Court. The government has already filed its affidavit on the matter in the court and is awaiting its consent.”

According to Deotale,this has adversely affected livelihood of people living in the Konkan region. Almost 75,000 families are engaged in these activities in Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri. And local villagers bank on them for daily wages.

Almost 400 mining projects under the state’s consideration have been indefinitely on hold for the last three years. Konkan was categorised as ecologically sensitive by the Western Ghat Ecology Expert Panel chaired by Madhav Gadgil. The panel has expressed serious ecological threat to the region following mining and related projects.

The revenue minister has directed his department to provide immediate relief by facilitating laterite stone mining,which takes place between October and May. Laterite stone,called chira,is used in the construction of houses in the absence of clay and cement in the area. The ban on quarrying and issuing new permits for the last three years has badly affected construction activity in Konkan and parts of western Maharashtra.

“Maharashtra wants to follow the process. But if things are delayed,we feel we will have to adopt our own mining rules which have already approved by the Cabinet,” said Deotale,adding that the Madhav Gadgil panel had visited the region to ascertain the facts. “We are awaiting a final report from the Centre. But MoEF has not given any consent,” he said.

A delegation representing the laterite stone association from Konkan led by Madhav Bhandari pointed out that laterite stone quarrying takes place in villages that are not ecologically sensitive so the area should be exempted from the MoEF ban. It also contested the decision to impose ban on mining on land measuring less than five hectares.