Why are the key stakeholders and experts missing from the mining consultation?
Stakeholders' Consultation on Draft Mining Plan Guidelines for Coal and Lignite Mines- 2024 was held on 1st July, 2024 under the leadership of Shri M Nagaraju to enhance regulatory framework governing coal and lignite mining. It had participation from 25 coal and lignite mining companies; yet, it is extremely disappointing and alarming to see a complete absence of people's participation in this consultation.
Stakeholders' Consultation on Draft Mining Plan Guidelines for Coal and Lignite Mines- 2024 was held on 1st July, 2024 under the leadership of Shri M Nagaraju to enhance regulatory framework governing coal and lignite mining. It had participation from 25 coal and lignite mining companies; yet, it is extremely disappointing and alarming to see a complete absence of people's participation in this consultation.
The effects of mining is most on the communities that will be displaced for mining, the people in its vicinity area where roads and dumping grounds will be created, trucks will pass, pollution of air, water, soil and light pollution will happen. People will lose their livelihood, culture, memories and association. Yet, while this consultation speaks of "fostering a sustainable approach to coal mining", it has failed to include any member to represent the voices, concerns and interests of the mining-affected people.
Was this consultation only to cater to its other objective of providing "flexibility to the coal mine owners", while disregarding the responsibility and accountability?
This was a stakeholders' consultation consisting of industry experts, yet key stakeholders and experts were missing from the consultation. Firstly, we need to recognize that communities are primary stakeholders in mining. Secondly, we need to also redefine "experts" by recognizing the communities expertise. Moving away from industrial, institutional knowledge; can we realize the "knowledge" of local communities and experts for sustaining their environment. The effects of mining is most on the communities that will be displaced for mining, the people in its vicinity area where roads and dumping grounds will be created, trucks will pass, pollution of air, water, soil and light pollution will happen. People will lose their livelihood, culture, memories and association. Yet, while this consultation speaks of "fostering a sustainable approach to coal mining", it has failed to include any member to represent the voices, concerns and interests of the mining-affected people.
Industry experts cannot be only engineers, architects and financers; rather even experts on people. It is to question if the experts are aware of the provision of Fifth Schedule that requires prior consent of the gram sabha for any project and their disagreement should be considered as a rejection of the mining project. Rather, projects seem to first get approval and then gram sabha are considered for consent as a mere administrative bottleneck. This leads to "manufacturing" forced or coerced consent from people either through fake gram sabhas or by use of violence against the people in forms of false criminal cases.
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