Hope for workers in plan to operationalise mines
The Orissa government has decided to take steps to clear procedural hurdles to operationalise Sukinda chromite mines.
The decision follows discussions at a high-level meeting held in the state secretariat under the chairmanship of finance minister Prafulla Ghadei.
In 1998, all operations at Kalarangi mines were stopped by the state government on the ground that it was a wildlife habitat.
At least 620 workers in the mines were rendered jobless. Some of the family members of the jobless workers allegedly starved and their children were compelled to leave schools as they could afford for education. Some of the jobless workers even reportedly died under stress.
The state government’s decision was challenged in the high court by Sukinda Upatyaka Mines Workers Union.
The high court, which heard the writ petition on November 11, 2001, disposed of the case with a clear-cut direction to the Union government to dispose the proposal for diversion of land within a period of three months from the receipt of the order.
Following the court order, the Central government issued in principle approval to the state government with a condition that the latter would conduct of environment impact assessment (EIA) and preparation of the wildlife Management plan (WMP) for this mine.
“Steps would be taken for early conduct of environment impact assessment (EIA) and preparation of the wildlife Management plan (WMP) for this mine,” minister Mr Ghadei told this newspaper on Friday.
Sukinda Chromite mines is an old mine owned by the state-owned Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC).
Post new comment