Relief, at last

The Supreme Court has drawn long-overdue attention to the deadly impact that mining in Bellary is having on the environment. Fertile land has been rendered uncultivable. The air is thick with mining dust and water heavy with toxic effluents from mineral extraction. The havoc wrought by the mining industry on the environment is easily visible to anyone visiting the area. But this has escaped the eyes of our politicians and officials.

Or rather they have chosen to ignore the terrible damage to environment wrought by mining in Sandur and Hospet taluks. The Supreme Court order will hopefully stir the Karnataka government out of its stupor. The apex court has asked mining companies to chart out how they propose to restore forests that have been destroyed by mineral extraction. It has warned that if environmental degradation goes on unchecked and remedial measures not taken, suspension of mining activity is an option before the courts.

Degradation of environment has massive implications for human health and well-being. The dust hanging over Bellary has resulted in a high incidence of lung infections and respiratory problems. Iron ore extracted from the land has transformed a few in the mining business into multi-billionaires but for the bulk of the people living here, mining has proved a curse. The Karnataka Human Development Report of 2005 ranked Bellary 18th among 27 districts and ranked the district lowest on social indicators like access to drinking water, health and literacy. The degradation of environment due to mining activity and the exploitation of people by the industry – child labour here is rampant – has worsened the condition of people’s health to unimaginable levels.

Neither the mining companies nor the government can absolve themselves of responsibility for the violence unleashed on Bellary’s environment. The nexus between mining companies and political power is well known. With police and political parties in their pockets, the owners of these companies have been able to destroy our air, soil and water without having to pay for its clean-up.

The Lokayukta has been drawing attention to the rampant illegal mining activity in the state. Its second report is expected soon. Its findings together with the Supreme Court warning should put Bellary’s mining mafia and its powerful backers out of business. Whether the government will make mining companies accountable is debatable. Public pressure should compel the government to get mining companies to clean up their act on all fronts.