India’s mining-based development: Economic prosperity hasn’t percolated to local people

A joint delegation of civil rights organizations, Samata and mines, minerals & People (mm&P) led by mm&P chairperson Rebbapragada Ravi and general secretary Ashok Shrimali met MPs of several political parties and minister of state of state for coal and mines Haribhai Chaudhary to apprise them of issues faced by the people in the mining areas. Text of the memorandum submitted by them:

India currently produces 89 minerals out of which four are fuel minerals, 11 metallic, 52 non- metallic and 22 minor minerals. Mining for fuel, metallic and non-metallic industrial minerals is currently undertaken in almost half of India’s districts. Post-Independence, mining has been considered as one of the main industries that generate high revenues considering that India is significantly endowed with mineral resources. In our country mining based development is considered to be directly proportional to economic prosperity at all levels — be it national or local. But that has not been the case! Read more

Courtesy: Counterview.org

Assembly resolution on mining against SC order: Panel to MPs

Panaji: A delegation of Mines, Minerals and People met MPs across party lines in New Delhi and explained how the private member resolution passed in the Goa assembly will handover mining leases to the same leaseholders, who had carried out illegal mining till the Supreme court intervened.

The body is an alliance of organisations, groups and individuals which has a network in 26 states. Delegation member Ravindra Velip said the delegation explained how the proposed amendments will bypass Supreme Court’s two judgments and only benefit the miners, who carried out illegal mining.

The Goa assembly unanimously passed resolution on August 3 to restart mining activities, which came to an halt on March 15.

Ravindra Velip, member of MM&P said the delegation made the MPs aware about resolution passed in the Goa assembly to amend mining laws so that the earlier leaseholders, who were stopped from carrying out illegal mining, get to continue mining.

He said the delegation explained how the proposed amendments will bypass Supreme Court judgments and only benefit companies who carried out illegal mining. “The MPs were briefed on how a people-oriented policy can lead to sustainable mining. We requested the MPs to raise a demand in Parliament that revenue lost due to illegal mining in Goa be recovered from the leaseholders,” he said.

Courtesy: The Times of India

CM Raman elaborates on how District Mineral Funds utilization in Cgarh

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh said that on Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi’s initiative more than 30 thousand works worth more than Rs 3600 crore have been sanctioned from District Mineral Fund (DMF) in mineral-rich districts of Chhattisgarh.

These works have been sanctioned on the basis of action plan recommended by governing councils. Chief Minister provided this information to listeners in the 36th episode of ‘Raman Ke Goth’ radio programme aired from Raipur centre of Akashwani. Read more

Courtesy: Clipper28

Controversy over bauxite mining continues

‘Chief Minister is yet to make specific announcement in this regard’
Even after the repeated assurances by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu that he would not allow bauxite mining against the wishes of tribal people in the scheduled areas of Visakhapatnam and East Godavari districts, the controversy continues to hog the limelight for over a decade. Read more

Courtesy: The Hindu

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