Nagpur: Manegaon villagers in Gondia district on Tuesday stopped tree felling operations by the forest department to pave way for iron ore mining.
Some 3,141 big trees are to be felled in the area for the iron ore mining project of Nagpur’s Jayaswal Neco Industries Limited (JNIL). The company has been granted forest clearance by MoEFCC for 17.56 hectares, equivalent to 44 football fields, for iron ore mining at Manegaon under the Amgaon forest range.
The company plans to mine 20,000 TPA iron ore.The mining lease area includes in all 37.34 hectares (19.78 ha revenue land and 17.56 ha protected forest). The area is rich in wildlife and has Schedule I species, said villagers and green activists.
Manegaon gram panchayat is opposed to the mining, as the villagers claim they are dependent on the forest for their needs. “The gram sabha has already passed a resolution on May 17, 2022, against the mine. The company has not taken gram panchayat NOC,” said Prakash Meshram, sarpanch.
When villagers learned about tree felling on Tuesday to clear the forest for mining operations, they gathered in the forest and stopped the tree felling. They threatened to launch a hunger strike if further tree felling happens at the site.
Activists said that when wildlife is crying for space, and causing conflict with humans, the Gondia forest division recommended the project without conducting any wildlife survey.
Sawan Bahekar of Sustaining Environment and Wildlife Assemblage (Sewa), Gondia, working for wildlife conservation has opposed the move to allow iron ore mining in the said forest.
“It is a habitat for leopards, Indian wolves, blackbucks, four-horned antelopes, jackals, and spotted deer. All these species are listed under various Schedules of the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972,” said Bahekar.
Though the core boundary of Navegoan-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR) on the eastern side is 12km from the proposed mining area, wildlife still uses the forest area.
“Sewa has been working in the area since 2005, and we have records to show that the proposed forest area has a breeding population of wolves, blackbucks, and other species,” Bahekar added.
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Some 3,141 big trees are to be felled in the area for the iron ore mining project of Nagpur’s Jayaswal Neco Industries Limited (JNIL). The company has been granted forest clearance by MoEFCC for 17.56 hectares, equivalent to 44 football fields, for iron ore mining at Manegaon under the Amgaon forest range.
The company plans to mine 20,000 TPA iron ore.The mining lease area includes in all 37.34 hectares (19.78 ha revenue land and 17.56 ha protected forest). The area is rich in wildlife and has Schedule I species, said villagers and green activists.
Manegaon gram panchayat is opposed to the mining, as the villagers claim they are dependent on the forest for their needs. “The gram sabha has already passed a resolution on May 17, 2022, against the mine. The company has not taken gram panchayat NOC,” said Prakash Meshram, sarpanch.
When villagers learned about tree felling on Tuesday to clear the forest for mining operations, they gathered in the forest and stopped the tree felling. They threatened to launch a hunger strike if further tree felling happens at the site.
Activists said that when wildlife is crying for space, and causing conflict with humans, the Gondia forest division recommended the project without conducting any wildlife survey.
Sawan Bahekar of Sustaining Environment and Wildlife Assemblage (Sewa), Gondia, working for wildlife conservation has opposed the move to allow iron ore mining in the said forest.
“It is a habitat for leopards, Indian wolves, blackbucks, four-horned antelopes, jackals, and spotted deer. All these species are listed under various Schedules of the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972,” said Bahekar.
Though the core boundary of Navegoan-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR) on the eastern side is 12km from the proposed mining area, wildlife still uses the forest area.
“Sewa has been working in the area since 2005, and we have records to show that the proposed forest area has a breeding population of wolves, blackbucks, and other species,” Bahekar added.
We also published the following articles recently
Forest dept team attacked by mining mafia in Deeg dist
A forest department team was attacked by the mining mafia in Deeg district while trying to halt illegal digging on forest land. The attackers injured several members of the team, including a forest officer who was attacked with an axe. The incident highlights the ongoing issue of illegal mining in the state’s forest areas.
A forest department team was attacked by the mining mafia in Deeg district while trying to halt illegal digging on forest land. The attackers injured several members of the team, including a forest officer who was attacked with an axe. The incident highlights the ongoing issue of illegal mining in the state’s forest areas.
Residents challenge Auroville Foundation on tree felling
The working committee of the residents assembly in Puducherry has rebutted Auroville Foundations statement, emphasizing the lack of unconditional permission from the Supreme Court and the need for environmental clearance for large-scale projects in India. They also highlighted the importance of reasonable safeguards, transparency, and ecological robustness in major infrastructure projects. The committee disputed the claim that only aggressive-invasive species were cut, stating that over 100 rare indigenous and rare tree species were uprooted. They further criticized the lack of detailed development and project plans, as well as the absence of recognition from Tamil Nadu planning authorities for the master plan.
The working committee of the residents assembly in Puducherry has rebutted Auroville Foundations statement, emphasizing the lack of unconditional permission from the Supreme Court and the need for environmental clearance for large-scale projects in India. They also highlighted the importance of reasonable safeguards, transparency, and ecological robustness in major infrastructure projects. The committee disputed the claim that only aggressive-invasive species were cut, stating that over 100 rare indigenous and rare tree species were uprooted. They further criticized the lack of detailed development and project plans, as well as the absence of recognition from Tamil Nadu planning authorities for the master plan.