Modi Govt Allows Commercial Mining in Captive Blocks Even in Reserved Forests

News click | Ayaskant Das | 30 March, 2023

Restrictions placed through forest clearance approvals on commercial sale of minerals from captive mines nullified with post facto effect.

New Delhi: In what could have far-reaching implications for the environment and livelihoods of communities living near forested areas of the country, the Narendra Modi government has allowed commercial mining from captive blocks even within reserve forests.

In a circular dated March 17, the Central government has asked state governments to allow lease holders of captive mines within reserved forests to sell up to 50% of total minerals extracted in a year after meeting end-use restrictions.

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No ‘outside festivals’ allowed, nod required for religious activities: Tribal-majority Bastar village’s diktat sparks row

The New Indian Express | March 20, 2023

The Ransargipal gram sabha directs Adivasis not to work in the fields of Hindus and Christians, says Christians cannot bury their dead in the village; the objective is to protect “tribal traditions, culture”, it claims.

In the tribal majority Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, a gram sabha has passed a resolution prohibiting the celebration of “outside festivals” and mandating that its permission be sought for any religious activity. The resolution passed by the gram sabha of Ransargipal village also directs Adivasis not to work in the fields of Hindus and Christians.

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Mancherial: mm&P vows to protect rights of people affected by mining of minerals

Telangana Today | Feb 20, 2023
The meeting was chaired by chairperson of the body Ravi Rebbapragada and attended by 15 members belonging to 16 states

Mancherial: Members of Mines, Mineral and People (MMP), a national network of voluntary organisations that works for rights of people affected by mining, held a meeting in Mancherial on Sunday. The meeting was chaired by chairperson of the body Ravi Rebbapragada and attended by 15 members belonging to 11 states.

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Drop pumped storage hydroelectric projects granted to various private entities in Fifth Schedule region, HRF urges Andhra Pradesh government

The Hindu | Jan 17, 2023

‘Adivasis in these areas have been deliberately kept in the dark’

The Human Rights Forum (HRF) demanded that the State Government drop the pumped storage hydroelectric Projects (PSPs) granted to various private entities in the Fifth Schedule region of Alluri Sitarama Raju and Parvathipuram-Manyam districts.

Speaking to The Hindu here on Tuesday, V.S. Krishna, HRF AP and TS Coordination Committee member, said that there are proposals for four PSPs in the Fifth Schedule region that have been cleared by the State Government recently.

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Cancel permission to hydro power projects: Former Union secy to govt

The New Indian Express | Dec 19, 2022

Sarma said the government seems to have not taken nod from the National Commission for STs before taking the decision on the projects.

VISAKHAPATNAM: Former Union Energy secretary EAS Sarma has said the consent given by the State Cabinet for hydro-pumped storage projects at Kurukutti and Karrivalasa in Parvathipuram Manyam and at Yerravaram in Alluri Sitarama Raju district is in ‘gross violation’ of the Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act and the Forest Rights Act.

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