Rampant illegal mining conducted in Sandur taluk of Bellary district has caused an enormous damage to the environment, health of human beings and animals over the last decade, a recent study has revealed.
According to a study conducted by Cerana Foundation, a Hyderabad-based non-government organisation, air pollution had affected crop and milk yields significantly. “Yields of maize, a major crop in this area, dropped to one-third of what it was 10 years ago from 62-74 quintal per hectare 10 years ago to 20-25 quintals per hectare as on day. Mango crop yields have declined from 500 fruits to 150 fruits per tree during the same period,” Sagar Dhara, head of Cerana Foundation said.
Addressing a press conference, here, he said the number of cattle in the area has reduced drastically as the dust-covered grass is not edible. Milk production and sale has reduced to 25 per cent of what it was earlier. Agricultural income loss to the area is estimated to be Rs 200 crore per annum or a loss of Rs 50,000 per annum to each family in Sandur taluk.
Cerana Foundation conducted the study titled “Environmental appraisal on iron ore mining in Sandur Taluk of Bellary district” on behalf of Samaj Parivartana Samudaya (SPS), another NGO, which is fighting the illegal mining case in the Supreme Court.
He said the iron ore mining conducted over the last decade has resulted in several diseases including asthma and cancer. The prevalence of children’s asthma ranges 7-20 per cent and private doctors report that every fourth patient they see is asthmatic in the taluk, which is significantly above the permissible limits. Heavy metals that the iron ore dust carries are causing a significant cancer risk (probability of 200-1,000 in a million chance of getting cancer) to the population of the taluk.
“Iron ore mining is a significant emitter of carbon dioxide (CO2). As no effort has been made to sequester this CO2, the environment is subsidising the iron ore industry. Were the industry to pay for CO2 sequestration, it would cost Rs 120 crore to raise plantation on 400 square kms,” Sagar Dhara said.
The iron ore industry in Sandur taluk is making a minimum profit in the range of Rs 3,000 crore to 14,000 crore per annum. “While they have made windfall profits, they have dumped the burden of injury caused by their activities on the environment and the people of Sandur,” he said.
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The study has recommended a comprehensive study, along the lines of this appraisal to improve the accuracy and precision of the impact findings. If mining is allowed in future, there should be zero risk from mining activity to the environment and to the local residents. A committee chosen by the local self-government may be established to ensure zero-risk mining, the report added.
S R Hiremath, President of SPS and the main petitioner in the illegal mining case said, “As petitioner in the illegal mining case, we would make every attempt to convince the Apex Court, on August 17 hearing, not to allow mining operations to resume in Bellary district before proper studies are conducted to ascertain the damage on the environment and health of the local residents caused by the iron ore mining.”