Bane of Avarice

Bane of Avarice

By Dr Arvind Kumar

The growing nexus between local politicians and mining mafias is claiming a heavy human toll. The recent deaths in quick succession at the hands of illegal miners - of a senior police officer in Madhya Pradesh and an activist in Tamil Nadu - underscore the magnitude of the threat posed by mining mafias across the country. The incresing demand for minerals and enfeebling controls and licences regulating the industry have pushed up illegal mining across the country. The number of illegal mining cases more than doubled to 82,230, in four years up to 2010, despite half-hearted measures adhered to by the Central and state governments because of the political clout of local politicians and other vested interests.

There is a need for sensitizing the local populace in and around mining areas to act as watchdogs and the local police and officials should take stern action against those indulging in illegal mining. But rather than policies per se it is ground-level implementation of agreed policies which will make a difference. Progress on this count has been very erratic. So far only seven states have made some attempt at digital mapping of leased mining areas. And only Rajasthan and Orissa have started using satellite imagery to correctly identify lease boundaries. Though a few other states like Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka and Orissa are using holograms and bar codes in transport permits to check illegal mining, other states are yet to introduce such improvements. It devolves on the Centre to coordinate and accelerate such efforts and put an end to illegal mining at the earliest.

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