Lok Sabha Question No. 1616 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-02
Subject: Mining in Sukinda Valley of Odisha
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Meenakashi Lekhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS)

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1616

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.03.2020

## MINING IN SUKINDA VALLEY OF ODISHA

## 1616. SHRIMATI MEENAKSHI LEKHI:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the Chromite mining in Sukinda Valley of Odisha, how many hectares of forest has been cleared till date;
- (b) the amount of solid waste which has been generated in the valley as a result of extensive mining;
- (c) the details of the waste disposal mechanism adopted by mining companies in the region;
- (d)  the  steps  that  have  been  taken  to  address  higher  levels  of  chromite  in  water  and  food  chain  which  has carcinogenic properties, thus posing significant threat to tribal communities;
- (e) the number of deaths in Sukinda Valley due to diseases acquired thereof;
- (f) the amount of compensation sanctioned by the mining companies to displaced tribal communities; and
- (g)  the  steps  that  have  been  taken  by  the  Government  to  safeguard  the  rights  of  tribal  communities  in  Sukinda Valley?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFIARS (SMT. RENUKA SINGH SARUTA)

- (a) Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), Ministry of Mines, Government of India has informed that nospecificinformation is available with IBM regarding total hectares of forest cleared till date. However, they have given the details  of  valid  leases  of  Chromite  in  Sukinda Valley  of  Odisha  with  forest  and  Non-forest  break  up, which is enclosed as Annexure-1 .Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) has also given details, which is enclosed as Annexure-2
- (b) IBM has informed thatas per Annual Return (2018-19) submitted to them, the quantity of solid waste generated in the valleyduring the year 2018-19 is 34,6,14,721 tonne. Cumulativewaste generated is 390,5,78,303 tonne.
- (c) IBM has informed thatthe waste generated has been stacked as waste dumps as per the proposal of mining plan. IBM has further informed that   Reclamation by way of back filling using the generated waste in the exhausted quarries is also being carried in few mines as per provision of MCDR 2017 andas per Annual Return (2018-19) submitted to them, a cumulative quantity of 68,0,99,714 tonne has been back filled, out of total generated waste.
- (d)  &  (e)  IBM  has  informed  thatin  the  Chromite  mines  of  Sukinda  valley,  water  treatment  plants  has  been established in each working mines for treatment of  Hexavalent Chromium (Cr +6 ) present in the mine water. IBM has  further  informed  thatthe  water  is  being  treated  in  treatment  plant  before  discharge  from  the  mining  lease areaand  no  information  is  available  with  IBM  about  the  number  of  death  in  Sukinda  Valley  due  to  diseases acquired for carcinogenic properties of higher levels of chromite in water and food chain.
- (f) & (g) Information is awaited from the State Government.

## ANNEXURE-1

Annexure of Reply to LSUQ No. 1616 for 02.03.2020 regarding 'Mining in Sukinda Valley of Odisha' asked by Shrimati Meenakshi Lekhi.

| Details of Chromite mines in Sukinda Valley Odisha   | Details of Chromite mines in Sukinda Valley Odisha   | Details of Chromite mines in Sukinda Valley Odisha   | Details of Chromite mines in Sukinda Valley Odisha   | Details of Chromite mines in Sukinda Valley Odisha   | Details of Chromite mines in Sukinda Valley Odisha   | Details of Chromite mines in Sukinda Valley Odisha   | Details of Chromite mines in Sukinda Valley Odisha   | Details of Chromite mines in Sukinda Valley Odisha   | Details of Chromite mines in Sukinda Valley Odisha   |
|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|
| Sl. No.                                              | District                                             | Name of the Mineral                                  | Name of the Lessees                                  | Location of the Lease                                | Forest Area (hects.)                                 | Non- forest Area (Hects.)                            | Total Area (Hect.)                                   | Status of Working                                    | Forest Area Degraded                                 |
| 1                                                    | Jajpur                                               | Chromite                                             | M/s B.C. Mohanty & Sons (P) Ltd.                     | Kamarda                                              | 101.850                                              | 5.39                                                 | 107.240                                              | W                                                    | 68.55                                                |
| 2                                                    | Jajpur                                               | Chromite                                             | M/s Balasore Alloys Ltd.                             | Kaliapani                                            | 64.123                                               | 0.34                                                 | 64.463                                               | W                                                    | 64.1                                                 |
| 3                                                    | Jajpur                                               | Chromite                                             | M/s FACOR Ltd.                                       | Ostapal                                              | 68.424                                               | 4.419                                                | 72.843                                               | W                                                    | 67.4                                                 |
| 4                                                    | Jajpur                                               | Chromite                                             | M/s FACOR Ltd.                                       | Kalarangiatta                                        | 23.8                                                 | 0                                                    | 23.8                                                 | W                                                    | 23.37                                                |
| 5                                                    | Jajpur                                               | Chromite                                             | M/s ICCL.                                            | Sukinda (Mahagiri)                                   | 73.777                                               | 0                                                    | 73.777                                               | W                                                    | 54.29                                                |
| 6                                                    | Jajpur                                               | Chromite                                             | M/s IDC of Orissa Ltd.                               | Tailangi                                             | 20.882                                               | 44.801                                               | 65.683                                               | W                                                    | 17.55                                                |
| 7                                                    | Jajpur                                               | Chromite                                             | M/s IMFA Ltd.                                        | Chingudipal                                          | 26.620                                               | 0                                                    | 26.620                                               | NW                                                   | 0                                                    |
| 8                                                    | Jajpur                                               | Chromite                                             | M/s IMFA Ltd.                                        | Kaliapani (Sukinda)                                  | 115.05                                               | 1.71                                                 | 116.760                                              | W                                                    | 115.05                                               |
| 9                                                    | Jajpur                                               | Chromite                                             | M/s Jindal Stainless Ltd.                            | Kaliapani                                            | 89.000                                               | 0                                                    | 89.000                                               | W                                                    | 83.32                                                |
| 10                                                   | Jajpur                                               | Chromite                                             | M/s M.L. Mines (P) Ltd.                              | Saruabil                                             | 241.778                                              | 5.08                                                 | 246.858                                              | W                                                    | 183.25                                               |
| 11                                                   | Jajpur                                               | Chromite                                             | M/s O.M.C. Ltd.                                      | Kalarangi                                            | 700.120                                              | 236.1                                                | 936.220                                              | NW                                                   | Mining operation not commenced                       |
| 12                                                   | Jajpur                                               | Chromite                                             | M/s O.M.C. Ltd.                                      | KamardaBalip adia                                    | 17.881                                               | 5.362                                                | 23.243                                               | NW                                                   | Mining operation not commenced                       |
| 13                                                   | Jajpur                                               | Chromite                                             | M/s O.M.C. Ltd.                                      | Balipadia (Mahagiri)                                 | 185.810                                              | 0                                                    | 185.810                                              | NW                                                   | Mining operation not commenced                       |
| 14                                                   | Jajpur                                               | Chromite                                             | M/s O.M.C. Ltd.                                      | South Kaliapani                                      | 308.627                                              | 243.83                                               | 552.457                                              | W                                                    | 181.523                                              |
| 15                                                   | Jajpur                                               | Chromite                                             | M/s O.M.C. Ltd.                                      | Kaliapani                                            | 749.995                                              | 221.25                                               | 971.245                                              | NW                                                   | 164.029                                              |

| 16   | Jajpur   | Chromite              | M/s O.M.C. Ltd.     | Sukrangi   |   177.760 |   204.949 |   382.709 | W   |   43.94 |
|------|----------|-----------------------|---------------------|------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----|---------|
| 17   | Jajpur   | Chromite & Pyroxenite | M/s TATA Steel Ltd. | Sukinda    |    404.67 |     1.33  |    406    | W   |  404.65 |
|      |          |                       |                     |            |   3370.17 |   974.561 |   4344.73 |     | 1471.02 |

Annexure of Reply to LSUQ No. 1616 for 02.03.2020 regarding 'Mining in Sukinda Valley of Odisha' asked by Shrimati Meenakshi Lekhi.

| S. No.   | Subject                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |   Area in (Ha) | Status of the Proposal                           |
|----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|--------------------------------------------------|
| 1        | Proposal for diversion of 115.05 Ha forest area as per Sabik records as on 25.10.1980 is being submitted with pursuance to the MoEF&CC circular no. F.No. 8- 78/1996-FC, dated 10.03.2015 in respect of Sukinda Mines (Chromite) of M/S. IMFA Ltd for mining of chromite ore |        115.05  | Stage-II/Final approval accorded on 22.06.2018   |
| 2.       | Mining lease for Mahagiri chromite mines of m/s Indian Charge Chrome Limited (ICCL) in village Laliapani under Sukinda Tehsil.                                                                                                                                               |         63.91  | Stage-II/Final approval accorded on 18.05.2005   |
| 3.       | Diversion of 35.285 ha of forest land for chromite mining in Mahagiridpf in Sukinda tehsil of Cuttack forest division.                                                                                                                                                       |         35.285 | Stage-II/ Final approval accorded on 26.06.2009. |
|          | TOTAL                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |        214.245 |                                                  |