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Nod to mining in Khaniyara
Govt succumbs to pressure
From S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Oct 20 — The government has succumbed to pressure by influential slate mining lobby of Kangra by getting hurdles cleared in the way of resuming quarrying in Khaniyara area which is already environmentally degraded.

The Environment Ministry has reportedly granted approval for re-starting mining in the area on certain conditions.

Although mining was officially stopped in Khaniyara in 1997, it remained simply on paper as the mining mafia continued its activities under political patronage.

The already degraded Dhauladhars in the Kangra area will become victims of unscientific quarrying once the mining is opened again, point out environmentalists.

The Commission on Environment Protection headed by Mr Justice R.S. Thakur (retd), before being wound up by the BJP government, had in its report in 1997 recommended that the mines should be acquired by the state government and the pits in denuded area filled.

However, the report remained unimplemented.

Certain local leaders of the ruling BJP and the Congress had been pressurising successive governments to lift the ban on quarrying in the area. With almost 10,000 families involved in mining, they wield considerable influence on the political bosses. Slate worth about Rs 3 crore is extracted annually and has become a source of livelihood of people living in adjoining villages.

Commercial slate mining was started in the area in 1867 during the British regime when one R.W. Shaw was granted lease in the name of Kangra Valley Slate Company Limited which was floated by him.

In 1953, when this area was a part of Punjab, certain shamlaat rules were framed under which slate quarrying operations were restricted to 146 hectares. But now the area under mining in two panchayats of Khaniyara and Dari has increased to over 625 hectares.

The commission had pointed out in its report that the total forest land in Khaniyara was about 12,699 acres and it was sharply decreasing due to removal of trees for mining activity. A considerable amount of fertile agricultural land had become useless due to accumulation of debris which flew from these mines.

Scars left by quarrying due to landslides and debris in the Thatharna zone had led to loss of aesthetic beauty of the area and ecology had been disturbed due to destruction of trees. Natural habitats of many species of animals was extinguishing, the report had warned.

The slate mines at Kuthait, Bagali and Kala-Choh in Majhi area were not suitable for quarrying as these mines were located on very steep slopes. The mines at Dhat, Chobu and Baraithi on the right bank of the Manooni stream and Mandhali and that on the left bank led to landslides. Slate mining in the Thatarna area had left behind precarious overhangs which on collapse caused a great loss to the forest cover.

The commission recommended that certain quarries hazardous to the entire area, especially in Khaniyara village, should be completely stopped. A high powered committee under the Chief Secretary should be appointed to undertake immediate measures for reclaiming the entire belt denuded by mining operations, it added.