Illegal Mining To Shape Legal Window
- 21-Jun-2022
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New Delhi: the Madhya Pradesh government has proposed to open 292 hectares for mining in five stretches on Chambal and its tributary Parvati rivers. Sand mining has been banned in the sanctuary since 2006. It is said, the decision will help forest department to save time and efforts in fighting illegal mining in the National Chambal Sanctuary.
In a December 2021 proposal submitted to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF-CC), the state said opening up the five stretches would minimise the conflict with illegal miners, gain local support, and fetch revenue from royalty, one-fourth of which could be used to strengthen protection measures.
Additionally, the proposal sought to make the contractors of the soon-to-be legal quarries responsible for checking illegal mining on adjacent sanctuary land four times their leased areas, failing which their leases would be terminated. Denotifying 292 hectares for mining would bring 1,168 hectares under the miners’ protection.
‘This is a policy decision of the government. Opening a legal window to meet local requirements should minimise the pressure of illegal mining,’ said Jasbir Singh Chauhan, chief wildlife warden, Madhya Pradesh.
