There is need for utilising superior technology including underground mining technology in the country as the forest and mineral resources of the country overlap each other, said the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) director general VK Bahuguna while addressing judges of the District Court and High Court from 17 States at the Orissa Judicial Academy on the weekend.
On the recommendation of the 12th Finance Commission a national seminar was organised on forest environment and mining by Justice Indrajit Mahanty, Chairperson, Orissa Judicial Academy under the overall guidance of Supreme Court judges Justices AK Patnaik and V Gopala Gowda. Bahuguna addressed the gathering on implementation of the Forest Conservation Act 1980 to ensure sustainable and environmentally compatible mining. He requested the judiciary to consider ways and means for improving environmental compliance and sustainability in ensuring explanation of mining minerals specifically sand, stone, lime stone and marble adding that more than 70 per cent of the country’s iron, coal, magnesium, chrome and bauxite deposits are present in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand States.
Giving a detailed history of forest conservation in India, the ICFRE DG narrated his experience on role of Forest Conservation Act 1980 in regards to mining. Specific instances were cited from the work done by a task force of the council on Environmental Impact Assessment of the mining operations in Bellary, Chitradurga and Tumkur districts of Karnataka.
Praising the efforts of Supreme Court in laying down the norms of sustainable forest and environmental governance, he emphasised on creation of proper livelihood models for the land vested under Forest Right Act 2006 as a counter to the Naxal activities and development of these areas through convergence. For food and water security, proper investment with people centric policies need to be adopted in 32 million hectares of forest land situated in and around 75 million hectares of rainfed agriculture.
Justice V Gopala Gowda advised 200 judiciary members from across the country to adopt the innovative expert advice while discharging their duties.
