Activists to petition government for miners’ welfare

Ballari: This could come as a subtle warning to the state government which has issued the notification to award iron ore mining leases afresh through an e-auction in January. Activist groups are planning to petition the Governor saying that efforts should to made to improve the condition of women and children in the mining areas of Ballari district.

 

The government issued a fresh notification on December 23 to auction 14 category “C” mines in the district, which were cancelled for gross irregularities and intends to allot mines to steel-making industries by March end. But a fact-finding committee led by Hyderabad-based non-profit organization, Dhatri, is planning to petition the Governor seeking his intervention to mitigate the damages caused by rampant mining on women and children before fresh mining is started.

 

The committee includes Bhanumathi Kalluri of Dhatri. Shanta Sinha, former chairperson of the National Child Rights Protection Commission, Neena Nayak, former chairperson of Karnataka State Child Rights Protection Commission, Rajendra Prasad, convenor of Hyderabad-based M?V?Foundation, Bhagyalakshmi from Sakhi Trust in Hosapete and Tippeshappa of Reeds organization. They visited villages in Ballari, Hosapete and Sandur taluks between March 9 and 11 this year before preparing the report. 

 

The panel visited select anganwadi schools, government schools and colonies where people from Scheduled Castes reside.  They found that mining activity had ill-effects on women and children.  Activists said the report was submitted eight months ago to the state chief secretary, the Ballari deputy commissioner and several departments but none responded to it.

 

An activist said the government had not bothered to undertake the rehabilitation of those affected. Instead, it was keen on awarding new mining contracts through e-auction. Even after the intervention of the Supreme Court in the affairs of the iron ore mining industry in Ballari-Hosapete-Sandur sector, women and children continue to suffer, he said.

 

The Supreme Court, while hearing a petition filed by Dharwad-based NGO, Samaj Parivartan Samudaya has directed the state government to establish a special purpose vehicle to mitigate the socio-economic damages of rampant mining in Ballari, Chitradurga and Tumakuru district.As per this order, last May, the state government established a SPV-Karnataka Mining Environment Restoration Corporation (KMERC)- to rejuvenate and rehabilitate mining affected areas.