Ground under our feet

Call it a chief justice’s farewell gift to the nation, if you will, but Chief Justice B.N. Kirpal did the right thing by signing off his tenure with a landmark order banning mining activity in the Aravalli hills. The final version of his order was issued last week and this means that two state governments — Haryana and Rajasthan — which have been long resisting the move, had better get down to ensuring compliance.

This, of course, is tricky business because — as an Express report has pointed out— many of the interests who have kept themselves busy stripping this stretch from Delhi to Mount Abu of its mineral resources with nary a thought for the morrow are extremely well-connected politically. Some, in fact, have a formidable presence in both the state governments. The attempt then could be to search for ways to circumvent the order to ensure its non-compliance. However, now that the chief secretaries of Haryana and Rajasthan have been directed to ensure that no mining activity takes place here, it is now up to the respective administrations to see the order through. Public opinion would be a great asset in this battle to ensure that the ban works because it is the public that stands to gain the most from such action. After all, we are speaking futures here. As the Central Empowered Committee set up by the apex court to advise it on the issue had observed, the Aravallis constitute a watershed and is the source of several seasonal streams that have, in turn, helped to recharge the ground water in the area. Apart from this, because of the inevitable overlapping of regions of mineral wealth and forest wealth, the careless mining that the Aravallis have witnessed has also seen a sharp dwindling of trees even in regions officially declared as forest land where no felling can occur. There are other negative aspects too, including the enormous levels of pollution that mining causes. Popular awareness then could be one of the best ways to ensure that the apex court’s exertions on the issue are made effective.

There is a larger aspect too that needs reiteration. There can be no getting away from the fact that mining is an important economic activity in the country and one that contributes to its prosperity. However, all efforts must be made to ensure that it is governed by environmental norms, not just during the process of mining but after it as well. Leaving gaping holes in hillsides, contaminating water sources with effluents, dumping pollutants such as clay, nitrates and grease in open heaps, is just not on. Already in states like Goa and Orissa, popular resentment against the don’t-care-attitude of the mining industry is growing. It had, therefore, better clean up its act if it does not want to be forced to do so.