SALEM: Confronted with severe resistance from environmental activists and farmers, private sector steel giant Jindal has pulled out from its proposed iron-ore mining plans at Kanchamalai even before a mandatory environmental impact assessment could be carried out in the area.
The hushed up matter has come to light now through an official confirmation, three months after the company’s decision. However, the company is in no exit mood as it had expanded its steel plant at Potenery in Salem district from 1 million tonnes to 2 million tonnes, in just a year with a plan to feed itself from the iron ore mined from Kanchamalai.
The company is vigorously pursuing the Tiruvanamalai iron ore reserves over an area of 325 hectares in the forested Kavuthi Malai and Vediappan Malai in Imam Karianthal village in Chengam taluk. A public hearing is scheduled to be held on December 27.
“This is a historic development and a first of its kind in this part of the state,” said Piyush Sethia of ‘Speak Out Salem’ which spearheaded the anti-mining movement with active support from the farmers surrounding the Kanchamalai hill.“We have saved our hill rich in herbs, a pilgrimage site and a source of many natural springs that had been the lifeline of thousands of people living in the ten villages around here,” said a jubilant farmer leader R S Mani of the Kanchamalai Padugappu Iyakkam.
The resistance to Kanchamalai iron ore mining started on May 29, 2008 when the Supreme Court empowered committee members, Mahendra Vyas and Jayakrishna arrived and elicited views of the people. The people came to know of the proposal only at that stage.
No official study or consent from the people was done on part of the Tamil Nadu Government. The Kanchamalai Padugappu Iyakkam was formed and a mass RTI application filing protest, siege of the mining department and Collector’s office and a series of demonstrations and meetings were held.
Jindal Steel Works (JSW) Salem plant (formerly SISCOL) had planned to tap low grade magnetite quartz ore available in Kanchamalai area in Salem and in Tiruvannamalai district (Tamil Nadu) by putting up mining facilities at an investment of Rs 400 crore. 75 million tonnes of resource was to be tapped by TIMCO a joint venture between Jindal Vijaynagar Ltd and TIDCO was to supply the iron ore to JSW Steel’s Salem facility.
638 hectares was sought at Kanchamalai, a place rich in indigenous herbs, and 330 hectares at Tiruvannamalai district. Around 90,000 trees at Kanchamalai and 200,000 trees in Tiruvannamalai district including those grown under the Japanese government funded Tamil Nadu Afforestation Project in the last ten years at a cost of over Rs 10 crore will be felled if the project is cleared.
Courtesy: Indian Express, 26-12-08
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