The lignite mines of Badi-Hodad village in Bhavnagar, Gujarat are in the news once again as local villagers and environmentalists have reported that the mining waste dump site has submerged by 30 feet, polluting the nearby pastoral lands and the Malshree river flowing nearby. has occurred.
Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti (PSS), in association with 12 Gam Khedut Sangharsh Samiti of Badi Padwa villages, has written a letter to the Gujarat government and the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) informing them about the changes in the area. After a site visit by both the committees on October 1, the letter said, “The mining waste hill, which is about 150 meters in length, is rapidly sinking into the ground, a phenomenon that requires immediate expert evaluation and investigation.” Is.”
The letter further said, “Illegal mining waste flowing from the mining waste hill is polluting the Malshree river.” renders it useless.
The organizations have demanded a drone survey of the area and asked the government to stop illegal dumping of mining waste at the existing site. In January, Indian Express had reported that the GPCB had issued a show-cause notice to Gujarat Power Corporation Limited (GPCL), a government entity that operates a lignite mine, for lack of a effluent treatment plant and a sewerage treatment plant. GPCL was also accused of running coal crushing operations without formal permission.
“Some of the 12 affected villages are located between lignite mines and a power plant operated by another state-run entity – Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Limited – in the same area. These villages are also battling with air pollution from these mines,” said Rohit Prajapati of PSS.
GPCB officials said they would visit the spot to take stock of the situation. In November 2020, an unusual phenomenon was observed in the area near the lignite mines, where large tracts of land were raised near the village of Hoidad.
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