Mining will destroy Karlapat biodiversity’

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I found the news published in the Bhubneshwar Edition of The Pioneer interesting and posting it for your perusal.

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SudhirMishra/Pioneer/Balangir

Bhubaneswar ‘Mining will destroy Karlapat biodiversity’

‘Mining will destroy Karlapat biodiversity’

Tuesday, 08 January 2013 19:51

PNS | BHUBANESWAR

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The State Government’s move to hand over a rich biodiversity hot spot like Karlapat to the Vedanta Aluminum Limited (VAL) for mining would destroy the sanctuary’s biodiversity and livelihood of the tribals,” said Lok Shakti Abhiyan president Prafulla Samantara at a Press meet here on Sunday.

Samantara said that the local people would soon start a struggle against the Government, if it goes ahead with the plan.  “When people are not prepared to sacrifice Niyamgiri, they too would not allow wanton destruction of a more sensitive green spot like Karlapat,” he stated.

There are 10 revenue villages and nine un-surveyed villages within the Karlapat Sanctuary. The total population of the 19 villages is 1,551, most of whom are tribals of Kandha and Majhi tribes. Rain-fed agriculture is the main source of income of the tribal inhabitants, who cultivate paddy, a major crop, along with other cash crops in the region. They also regularly depend on forest resources like collecting hill brooms and bamboo sticks, besides other non timber forest produces.

A number of perennial streams flow in the area and feed into river Tel, a major tributary of the river Mahanadi. High plateau and waterfalls of the area are also major attractions for the tourists. The vegetation of the sanctuary along with its perennial water sources influences the microclimate of the district. Karlapat boast of its elephant population and serves as a crucial corridor link for the pachyderms between Kotagarh Sanctuary in Kandhamal district and Lakhari valley sanctuary in Gajapati district.

The sanctuary is also a safe habitat for wild animals, including many endangered species. Very important and rare plants are growing in the area. “If the State allows Vedanta for mining in the plateaus such as Khandualmali and Krishnamali of the sanctuary, which are 1 to 3 km from the boundary of sanctuary, it would violate the Supreme Court’s guidelines, which stipulate that no developmental, industrial or mining activities would take place within 10 km of any wildlife sanctuary and national park,” said Samantara.