Don't mine minerals sans consent of people call rung out
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 08 2020:
The Committee on the Protection of Natural Resources in Manipur (CPNRM) has denounced the State Government's move to allow chromite and limestone mining in Manipur "without the consent" of the indigenous people.
In a statement, the CPNRM said that the Government of Manipur had signed MoUs with Sarvesh Refractories Pvt Ltd, Rourkela Minerals Pvt Ltd, Kotak Resources, Gulf Natural Resources, Visa Steel Ltd, Manipur Mines and Minerals Pvt Ltd, Balassore Alloys Ltd etc in 2017 .
The GOM also signed MoUs for limestone mining and to establish cement plant with Super Ores, Gulf Natural Resources and Ramung Enterprises without the consultation and consent of the people of State.
The mining plan in Manipur is marred with failure to recognise indigenous peoples rights over the land and resources and absence of detailed impact assessment, forest clearance and environment clearances.
The plan for chromite mining at Singcha Gamnon was approved in 2017 and 2018 without receiving environment clearance and forest clearance for the project, claimed CPNRM adding there is lack of assessment on the impact of chromite mining on health.
CPNRM is concerned with increased targeting of the land and resources of Manipur by mining companies for their profit.
Mining will lead to land grabbing, displacement, and will impoverish communities.
The limited loyalty from mining will hardly reach the people and will be disproportionate to the loss of land and resources.
Mining will intensify conflict and human rights violations, it said, appealing the Government to stop mining plans, surveys, exploration and actual commercial operations without the consent of the people of Manipur.
The indigenous peoples' rights over land and resources should be fully recognized, said CPNRM urging the Government to revoke the MoUs it signed with the mining companies.