Surajgarh Iron Ore Mining | Excavation of iron ore continues on Surajgad hill despite opposition from Naxalites
- Environment department gave permission for mining with many conditions
Gadchiroli, In the famous Surajgarh Iron Mine, the Environment Department of the Central Government has given approval to increase mining with several conditions. At present, 30 lakh tonnes of iron ore was allowed to be mined per year from this mine. Now it will be increased to one crore tonnes. A petition against this is especially pending in the High Court. Iron ore mining started a year ago at Surajgarh hill in Etapalli tehsil after stiff opposition from local tribals and Naxalites. Lloyd Metals Company has its contract. While Triveni Earthmovers is a company working as a partner.
Initially 348 hectares of forest land on the hill has been allotted for mining. This has made mining of 30 lakh tonnes of minerals possible at present. However, the company wanted to increase this limit to 10 million tonnes, so it submitted such a proposal to the government. That’s why a public hearing was held a few months ago. But due to the prevention of many people including the media from going to this public hearing, the citizens of the affected areas raised objections.
There is a fear among the tribals that, if more mining is allowed, it will cause pollution to the surrounding villages. According to this, the Environment Department has imposed many conditions on the company while giving permission. This information has been given by the pollution department. However, many have raised doubts whether the company will meet all the conditions. Along with this, due to a petition against it pending in the High Court, there are indications of a dispute over the increased mining.
Naxalites have been threatening people going to work in the mines ever since the excavation started on Surjagarh hill. Naxalites are protesting. They had set fire to that place earlier also, but the excavation was going on smoothly for a year. But for a few months the Naxalites have again become active in the area. And they threatened the villagers who went to work in the mines. That’s why hundreds of villagers have not gone to work for the last ten days. According to sources, senior Naxalite leader Giridhar is active in that area. In some villages, meetings have also taken place with the village heads. That’s why there is an atmosphere of panic among the citizens.