Jamshedpur | March 08, 2016: Stone crusher and brick kiln owners have claimed that since mining activities ceased in the foothills of Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary (DWS), traders from 85 villages across Kharswan, Chandil, Nimdih, Patamda, Bodam, Jamshedpur and Ghatshila blocks of East Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharswan have been facing financial crisis.

Commerical mining were stopped around 10 months ago by the forest department, following a central notification and the forest ministry declaring the demarcated area, around 193 km from the sanctuary, an eco sensitive zone.

"If the state government fails to come up with an alternative arrangement at the earliest, our livelihood will be affected," said Prabhat Kumar Churiwala, president of the stone crusher owners' association. He said a majority of people, mostly villagers who are directly or indirectly dependent on the stone crushing and kiln industry, are facing a livelihood crisis. Traders have also been hit.

The mining entrepreneurs said a total ban on "non-forest activities" like mining, stone crushing or setting up of industries causing pollution in the demarcated zone has not only affected business, but would adversely impact the proposed road construction projects of the state and central governments.

"Jharkhand is likely to witness massive investments in road construction projects on state highways and national highways. These road projects require stone chips and cement among other construction material. If there is no alternative arrangement to resume the stone crushing and kiln business, raw material shortage will hamper infrastructure development projects," Churiwala said.

Echoing the sentiments of traders, Dalma Shetra Gram Suraksha Samiti functionary P K Besra said the state government should work out alternative arrangements to ensure villagers' livelihood is not affected. "Many villagers who were engaged in stone crushing and kiln production activities for years are facing a financial problem," Besra said.

A forest official of the DWS wing, on condition of anonymity, said the issue is under consideration at different levels in the department. "Recently, senior forest officials had a meeting with local MP Bidyut Baran Mahato on this issue. The matter should be resolved soon," said another forest official.

(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)