This story is from June 23, 2020

Aaditya urges Javadekar to stop mining near Tadoba

Aaditya urges Javadekar to stop mining near Tadoba
Nagpur: The Maharashtra government has raised a note of dissent over the Centre putting up the flora and fauna-rich proposed coal block at Bander, near the world-famous Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), for auction. State environment minister Aaditya Thackeray, on Monday, dashed off a letter to Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar opposing the mines.
In the letter (copy with TOI), Shiv Sena’s Thackeray has sought urgent intervention of the Centre on the issue.
He stated that the proposed coal mine falls in the tiger corridor from Tadoba to Bor and Melghat tiger reserves, and has repeatedly received objections in the past.
As reported by TOI in 2009 as well as on June 19 and 20, the Bander coal blocks are 7 to 9 kilometres from the Tadoba. On June 19, former environment minister Jairam Ramesh too had written to Javadekar opposing the mines. He had also apprised Thackeray about it.
Thackeray highlighted how former Ramesh had opposed the project during the UPA-II regime. The then chief conservator of forests (CCF) and field director of TATR too had raised strong objections on the project, stating “the mining activity in Bander coal blocks was going to disrupt an important tiger corridor between Tadoba and other wildlife areas of Central India”.
The state minister pointed out that man-animal conflict in the state, especially in Chandrapur district where Bander is located, is on the rise due to shrinking habitats for spillover tiger population.
“Many hurdles for dispersal of tigers were created in the past because of granting various mining leases. While the government intends to focus on renewable energy, such a move is unprecedented,” added Thackeray.

The minister has sought protection of the crucial wildlife corridor. “We must do everything we can to protect at least those areas that fall under identified wildlife corridors,” he wrote in the letter.
As reported by TOI, over 1,200 hectare of rich forest land will have to be diverted if mining is allowed in the area. According to wildlife experts, Bander falls in the route used by tigers to disperse from Tadoba to Bor in Wardha district and Melghat reserve in Amravati district.
“We must do everything we can to protect at least those areas that are currently protected and which fall under the identified corridors,” said Thackeray.
The minister added that it is crucial to rethink “if this mine is necessary and what will its adverse impact be on biodiversity”.
On June 18, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that the Centre is opening up 41 coal blocks for commercial mining. He added that the auction will usher in an era of competition and transparency.
The Jharkhand government has moved the Supreme Court claiming that the auction is happening when there is a negative global investment climate. It also claimed that the social and ecological damaged has not been looked into properly.
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