SHIMLA | Jul 02, 2015: Fearing loss of water and forest resources, homes and livelihoods, people from 50 villages in Arki area of Solan district have submitted a petition against a proposed mining project to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"Mining activities for cement plants at Darlaghat and Arki have already wreaked havoc on ecology in the area and now another mining project has been approved," rued Ramkali Thakur, former president of Chamyawal gram panchayat, Arki.
She said that in 2011, a public hearing was held at Ghanaghughat where around 300 villagers had boycotted the limestone mining project. "Now the same has been approved. But, we will continue to fight to save our area," she added.
President of Dhar's Sanyukt Gram Kalyan Samiti (SGKS), Chet Ram Thakur said that the limestone mining project would affect fresh water resources like Sakni, Sujhaila, Taal and hundreds of other small water bodies catering to the daily need of around 50 villages. "These water sources also irrigate the area," he added.
He said that around 23 water supply schemes of irrigation and public health department would be also be affected by the upcoming project. Moreover, around 100 families of eight villages — Behli, Taal, Sujhaila, Jijhaun, Sherpur, Kaug, Seri and Bapron would be rendered homeless, landless and jobless as people there are highly dependent on animal husbandry, agriculture and 'Anardana' plantation for living, he added.
SGKS has claimed that wiping out of water resources would directly affect the gharats (watermills), which are already on the verge of extinction in the Himalayan region. A resolution was passed by the protesting villagers on June 14 and sent to the PM, ministry of environment, forest and climate change, chairman of National Green Tribunal, Himachal chief minister Virbhadra Singh, irrigation and public health minister, deputy commissioner Solan and sub-divisional magistrate to cancel the sanction provided to National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC).
The resolution also stated that while the NMDC has said around 900 trees would be cut during mining, an RTI query had revealed that thousands of trees would be axed.
When contacted, NMDC Arki Limestone project in-charge Dr Mahesh Verma said they received the approval for mining lease on June 5. He said that of the total 232.6 hectare area, mining was to be done on 57 ha and claimed they would be doing it in a scientific manner to ensure that water resources are not harmed and minimum trees are cut.
Sub-divisional magistrate Arki, L R Verma, said he was not aware of any opposition from the local residents. "However, if people come to us with genuine problems, we will definitely look into the matter," he added.
(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)