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Mine operations threaten poor villagers in eastern India

Caritas refutes state-run mining company's claims that its operations will not affect local inhabitants
Mine operations threaten poor villagers in eastern India

Local Catholics say that the church-run Subh Sandeh school (pictured above) is under threat from a bauxite-mining project. (Photo provided by Father Virendra Tirkey)

Published: September 07, 2016 07:49 AM GMT
Updated: September 07, 2016 11:37 AM GMT

Vipin Minj is unfortunate enough to live in a bauxite-rich area in eastern India. At the age of 36, this member of the Oraon tribe now must fight to save his land where his family has lived for generations.

"We live a modest farming life," said Minj, a Catholic, as he tilled his one-hectare plot in Sarguja District, Chhattisgarh state. Income from his farm must also support his elderly parents, wife and younger brother.

Tensions began after state-owned Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation (CMDC) listed farming and tribal land as part of a 99,350-hectare reserve for the mining of bauxite, a key source of aluminum. The excavation process has already started.

The project threatens to displace about 1,000 people, mostly from tribal and other traditional communities. India has a law that stipulates that land can only be taken with the permission of the village council but the mining company has manipulated the situation, according to Minj.

Munna Yadav, a 21-year-old villager, said they suspected officials fudged village resolutions against the acquisition of their land.

The government project will devour houses, farmland and grazing land "displacing us and robbing us of our daily bread," said Yadav who depends on cattle farming.

Officials also steered a mandatory "environment impact assessment report" to show that the project would not adversely impact the environment and human inhabitation, according to Yadav. The present report "does not even mention that people live here," he added.

The report, now available in the public domain, says that "the mine area does not cover any habitation. Hence the mining activity does not involve any displacement of human settlement. No public buildings, places, monuments etc. exist within the lease area or in the vicinity. The mining operation will not disturb/relocate any village or need resettlement. Thus no adverse impact is anticipated."

Father Virendra Tirkey, an assistant priest from Shubh Sandesh Parish, said: "The government report is a blatant lie."

Minj's land and that of several other people comes under the area earmarked for excavation, said Father Tirkey.

The parish was established 38 years ago and a community has built up around it. "Now the mining is going to displace everyone," the priest said.

The boundary of the mining project is just 25 meters away from the church compound, which also houses a church-run middle school and dispensary, he said.

"Any blasting in the mine will destroy church buildings and other houses in the area."

If the government report does not recognize houses, institutions and other buildings in the area, people will have to flee, said Father Tirkey.

"Once the mining starts we all will have to run away to save our lives without waiting for compensation," he added.

Minj said the government offers  64,000 Indian rupees (about US$1,000) for every acre of land.

"What kind of a compensation is that? I earn an average of 100,000 rupees per acre cultivating vegetable and pulses," said Minj.

Neelesh Ekka, a local Caritas representative, said: "Because the people are poor and illiterate the government officials manipulated [the] records."

The officials, he said, fudged the reports thinking local people would be too weak to respond but that has been proved wrong. In some areas mine workers were chased away by furious villagers, said Ekka.

"Though there is no protest right now, people are angry and there could be bloodshed [unless] the state stops the project," he added.

State coordinator of Caritas India, Pushpa Mathias, said that local people are joining tribal and rights groups across the state to fight for their land.

"They are working with the Chhattisgarh Alliance for Tribals and Other Forest Dwellers and the Nati Ghati Morcha [People's Network] to protect the lives and livelihoods of local people," she said.

They are also planning to complain to the state governor and ask him to cancel the project and take punitive action against the officials, Mathias said.

Meanwhile, Minj is determined to stay. "We have no option other than to fight for our land," he said. "Everyone in our family is prepared to shed blood if required … better to die fighting for our land than become a beggar."

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