Little done for uplift of mineral-bearing regions : Report

Kolkata, Jan 18 (UNI) Mining in India has, contrary to government's claims, done little for the development of the mineral-bearing regions of the country, says the environment report of the Centre for Science and Environment(CSE).

The report titled ''Rich Lands, Poor People- Is Sustainable Mining Possible'' was released here today by Governor Gopalkrishana Gandhi.

Between 1950 and 1991, the report says, mining displaced about 2.6 million people and not even 25 per cent of these displaced have been rehabilitated adding about 52 per cent of these displaced were tribals.

For every one per cent that mining contributes to the country's GDP, it displaces 3-4 times more people than all the development projects put together, the report says.

It says forest land diversion for mining has been going up and an estimated 1.64 lakh hectare of forest land has already been diverted.

Referring to West Bengal, the report says that coal mining in the state has had severe impacts ranging from land subsidence and degradation to health problems related to air pollution, destruction of water resources and displacement of people.

The two districts in West Bengal that have the highest concentration of mining-Bankura and Purulia, also have highest area under barren and wastelands, the report says.

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