2-5 April 2015 | Varanasi to Robertsganj
Despite large-scale illegal mining on forest department’s land is rampant in Sonbhadra, government is reluctant to stop it. Even the Central government’s Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has declined permission sought by UP government to do mining on forest department’s land. Still UP government did not make any attempt to stop illegal mining on forest department’s land in Sonbhadra. The District Magistrate had applied for diversion of forest land for mining activities, the request to which was rejected by the central government – inspite of which mining leases have been sanctioned adjacent (less than 1 km) to Kanachh Reserved Forest which is part of Kaimur Forest Sanctuary. As per Supreme Court’s order and ministry’s guidelines, no mining lease can be sanctioned within 10 km from a wildlife sanctuary and national park.
Central government’s Ministry of Environment and Forests even gave a warning to UP government and held Sonbhadra’s District Magistrate responsible yet no action was taken by the state government. On 22nd August 2012, Central government’s Ministry of Environment and Forests wrote to Secretary Forests of UP Government that: illegal mining was being done since 2009; concerned District Magistrate, Mining Officer/ Mining Surveyor of district Sonbhadra were responsible for illegal sanction of mining leases on reserved forest area without approval of central government under Forests (Conservation) Act; and that Divisional Forests Officer (Obra) will also be held responsible if no objection certificate was issued in these mining cases. A public interest litigation (PIL) has also been filed in the Supreme Court on this issue too.
JP Associate is illegally constructing a captive thermal power plant (4x60MW) with one MTPA cement grinding unit and coal washery, 1.5 km away from wildlife sanctuary in Sonbhadra.
It is difficult to cap illegal mining because of huge income and collusion of leaders of different political parties, and their nexus with the mafia.
Not only corruption is growing due to illegal mining but local people are also facing the brunt of serious diseases and environment facing irreparable damage.
On 27th February 2012, a dozen labourers lost their lives in an accident in one of the mines in Billimarkundi. None of them have been paid compensation by UP government.
Since politicians, contractors, officers will not cap illegal mining and now even some journalists are reported to be involved hands-in-glove, now it is left up to the common citizens to raise their voice against the illegal mining in Sonbhadra.
With this intention we at Sanjha Sanskriti Manch Varanasi and Socialist Party (India) – the green party of India, are organizing a foot march so that common citizens can contribute to the campaign to save forests and stop illegal mining in Sonbhadra.
Route of the foot march:
* 2 April 2015, morning: Varanasi: Nandlal 9415300520, Monish Babbar 8953988126, Chintamani Seth 9450857038
* 2 April 2015, afternoon and night: Khajuraul: Krishna Murari Singh Patel, Gram Pradhan, 9721089479
* 3 April 2015, afternoon and night: Ahraura: Dildar Sonkar, Chairman 9415360234, Ram Asrey Vishwakarma 8009370148
* 4 April 2015, afternoon and night: Madhupur: Ajay Shekhar 9794091446
* 5 April 2015: Robertsganj: Ajay Shekhar, past head of Nagar Palika 9794091446
Contacts:
Ajay Shekhar 9794091446, Nandlal 9415300520, Urmila Vishwakarma 7639755761, Mahendra 9936473073, Suresh 9839017693, Vallabhacharya 9415256848, Chintamani Seth 9450857038, Monish Babbar 8953988126, Hemant Kannaujia 8795217652, Guru 9845294184, Sandeep Pandey 0522-2347365, 0542-6702702, 2575389
Organized by: Sanjha Sanskriti Manch, Varanasi and Socialist Party (India)
