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The Supreme Court’s ruling to allow mining and construction activities at the ecologically-sensitive Niyamgiri Hills may have boosted the morale of the investment community, but has definitely dealt a blow to the local tribes and environmental organisations which have vehemently opposed this project on sound social and ecological grounds to save precious forestland from being ravaged by mining. Even though the ruling stipulates that the company has to pay a certain fixed amount for the “welfare of tribals”, it remains mute on the disastrous consequences this will have on the already beleaguered Indian wildlife. Habitat fragmentation and blocking of elephant corridors by mining has resulted in an increase in the man-elephant conflict in the Keonjhar division of Orissa.

It is most unfortunate that the same Supreme Court that rescued Kudremukh from being decimated by mining, has permitted the sacrificing of precious forestland and its native fauna.

Girish Prahalad Bangalore

More Stories on : Letters | Courts/Legal Issues | Mining & Quarrying | Environment

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