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MINING: A GUIDE TO INDIA’S WEALTH, ITS RESOURCE CURSE |
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Map:  Hotspots
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State
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 The state faces a slew of mining-related problems, ranging from the pollution of the Damodar river, fires and subsidence in Jharia, radioactive poisoning in Jaduguda, and health impacts due to asbestos dumps in Horo, Chaibasa. The state has vast reserves of coal, iron ore, fireclay, limestone and copper, among others.
Accounts for 29% of the nation’s coal reserves and 14% of iron ore. Produced 21% of the nation’s coal in 2004-05
Mining industry contributed 11-13% to the state's total revenue receipts
Many districts are resource-rich, especially those of East and West Singbhum (47% of land under mining lies in West Singhbhum).
The state has a significant forest cover, most of which also lies in the mineral-rich districts. 17% of state’s forest lies in West Singhbhum, which also produces 99% of iron ore in the state.
Hazaribagh is the second-highest coal producer of the state, which also has 39% of its area under forest cover.
Many of mining districts are also tribal districts. About 70% of the population in Gumla district is tribal; West Singhbhum, tribals constitute 66% of the district's population.
Saranda has the largest sal forests in Asia and is home to the Asiatic elephant. The elephant population has reduced from 424 in 2002 to 375 in 2005 due to mining and allied activities. The Chiria mines in Saranda are also believed to hold the largest iron ore deposits in Asia.
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| JADUGUDA |
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Jaduguda’s claim to fame is the sole uranium mine and processing plant of the country. Owned by the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), the processing plant sources its uranium from three underground mines and by-product from three copper mines.
One of the unique characteristics is the extremely low content of uranium of the ore; so low that it would not be considered worth extracting in many other countries.
As a result of low uranium content, the Jaduguda mines generate large quantities of tailing waste. This, along with the wastes from Nuclear Fuel Complex in Hyderabad, is disposed in three tailing dams. The dams impound millions of tonnes of radioactive wastes but are unlined and uncovered, posing a huge risk to the community. Leaches from the tailing dam can easily find their way into the Subarnarekha river, which is only 5 km from the site.
Various studies have reported health impacts due to radioactivity, including abnormal births, miscarriages among women, cancers, lung diseases and congenital and genetic disorders among newborns.
UCIL has witnessed widespread protests, principally organised by the Jharkandi Organisation Against Radiation (JOAR). It took the company to court in 2000, seeking direction to the Centre and UCIL to take stringent safety measures. The petition was, however, dismissed.
Protests, however continue. Learning from the experiences of Jaduguda, communities in different parts of the country -- Domiasiat in Meghalaya, Nalgonda in Andhra Pradesh and Banduhurang in Jharkand -- are opposing efforts of UCIL to open mines in their area. |
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| JHARIA |
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Coal has been the bane of the town of Jharia. Underground fires have been raging for years in Jharia coal fields; the first major blaze occurred over 90 years ago.
Left unattended and stoked by unrelentless mining activity, as many as 70 fires have erupted in Jharia, of which 60 are widespread. Already 42 MT of best coking coal has gone up in flames and 1864 MT is out of bounds to mining.
Around 35,000 households are said to be under ‘immediate threat’. Over 150,000 miners and other workers brave the blaze to earn a living.
Although several committees have been created, and numerous action plans framed, the fire continues to rage. The more notable plans include: A plan submitted by CMPDI in 1988 (Rs. 115 crore); a 1994-96 World Bank project to diagnose and control fire; a master plan by CMPDI for dealing with fire, subsidence and rehabilitation in BCCL leasehold (1999); a plan drawn to rehabilitate everyone including encroachers, among many other plans.
Most other elementary solutions to deal with the fire have become lucrative businesses for the concerned players. For instance, on paper, BCCL has filled the burning mines with 50 MT of sand. Sources indicate, however, that less than one-fourth of this amount may have actually reached the pits.
As a solution to this, one of the suggestions which came up was the relocation of nearly 0.3 million people from Jharia. Many however suspect that relocation will only facilitate open cast mining -- the best coal is after all, under the town.
The economics prove this. Around Rs 18,000 crore would be required to shift the entire population of Jharia (excluding loss of livelihoods and business). To extinguish the fires, the company will need to spend around Rs 10,000 crores. However, the estimated worth of coal that can be extracted from Jharia is worth a massive Rs 30,000 crore.
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