‘Despite HC’S order, licence for mining in green zone renewed’
The Kolhapur regional office of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has renewed an iron ore mining licence at Kalne village in the contentious Dodamarg-sawantwadi belt, a response under the Right to Information (RTI) Act received by environmental group Vanashakti has revealed.
The Bombay high court (HC) in 2013, based on a 2011 petition by Awaaz Foundation, had directed the Union environment ministry and the state to ensure that the corridor is protected as an ecologically-sensitive area (ESA), where mining and red-category industries are prohibited and need to be phased out.
The HC had reiterated its order in 2018, based on Vanashakti’s petition in 2016, declaring the entire belt as a ‘no tree-felling zone’. After the HC order, the state forest department had recently approved a study worth ₹83 lakh, directing the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, to assess the exact boundaries of the ESA and analyse the presence of tiger and elephant movements.
According to the RTI response, MPCB has issued the consent to renew operations to handle 7.5 lakh metric tonnes of iron ore for a year till March 31, 2021, across the 32.25-hectare (ha) area at Kalne, falling in Dodamarg taluka of Sindhudurg district. The area forms a part of the corridor that connects the Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary in Kolhapur to Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka.
Based on the RTI response,
Vanashakti collated satellite images, accessed the site’s photos and filed a complaint on Saturday with various state bodies, including the environment department, urging them to revoke the permissions given, as it risks the safety of the corridor, which is home to a large biodiversity.
“The entire 32.2-ha green cover has been destroyed due to mining. The change in topography shows the extent of destruction to this crucial wildlife corridor which has been caused by the mining body, with MPCB’S blessings. Satellite imagery shows tree felling at the Kalne mine area, even as MPCB’S renewal for mining operations is in defiance of the prohibitory order imposed by the HC,” said Stalin D, director, Vanashakti.
A senior forest department official said prohibited activities at an ESA site includes complete ban on mining, quarrying and sand mining.
“The phasing out of existing mines within five years of ESA proposal, and all other red category industries including thermal power plants are to be banned,” the official said.
MPCB said the mining operations had begun in 2009 after acquiring an environment clearance, following which the first licence to operate was issued.
“This was an existing mine before the petition in the court. Renewal consent was approved by the previous regional officer as there is no stay on existing industries. However, after the HC directive, no new red-category units have been approved,” said Ravindra Andhale, regional officer (Kolhapur), MPCB.