No green nod for small mines, a boost for Floricans

Jaipur: Taking a proactive step towards protection and conservation of endangered Lesser Floricans, forest and environment minister Gajendra Khimsar has refused environmental clearance to small mines that are less than 5 hectare to operate in Sonkhliya, the bird's habitat. The

bird

is listed as an endangered species in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, 2011, and under the Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

The minister’s decision was based on the recommendations of Union ministry of environment & forest MoEF study report on Sonkhliya, and a letter by the DFO Ajmer and member, District Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (DEIAA), Ajay Chittora to the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), to cancel mining leases in the area.

Though the letter was written way back on 17.6.16 to the member secretary (SEIAA), pressure from the feldspar and quartz mining lobby in the area it is believed, did not initiate any action.

Sources say there are over 150 mines in the area, as quartz, mica and minerals deposits are found in the region.

“Sonkhliya area is the habitat and breeding ground for the critically endangered GIB and endangered Lesser Floricans. Spread over 526.83 sq. km and 43 revenue villages there are 42 mining leases that are causing immense disturbance to the birds due to rampant blasting. The number of GIB when it was a ‘Closed area’ in 1992 was 60. But after the mining leases were given there were no GIB reported in this area in 2015.Considering that it is important to conserve the district bird Lesser Florican or Kharmore environmental clearance to the mines should be cancelled,” wrote Chittora.

30 km from Ajmer, Sonkhliya for years carried a different distinction. By virtue of being declared a ‘Closed Area’ under the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972, it housed the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard, GIB and endangered, the Lesser Floricans. But later an amendment removed it from the protection of a ‘Closed Area’. Due to disturbance caused by blasting for rampant mining, gradually the GIB abandoned as notes MoEF and now only 40 Lesser Floricans from 400 in 2012 are reported in the area. The bird is well known for its spectacular aerial display in the arid and semi-arid grasslands especially during rainy season which is its breeding period too.

Now, the minister has written to the district collector and (DEIAA), not to give environmental clearance to mines less than 5 hectare. And if the small mines are not given consent to operate, then how can the large mines, continue mining in the area?

“Sokhliya is the natural habitat of Lesser Floricans but in the last ten years their numbers have drastically dropped due to mining. Considering the MoEF site specific recommendations on the way ahead for Sokhliya a letter has also been written to SEIAA to re-consider why the larger mines should be allowed in the area and withdraw their license to operate. Besides we have requested the BNHS to do a complete study on how to safeguard the bird and its habitat in Sokhliya,” said Khimsar.