Lok Sabha Question No. 3882 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-17
Subject: Mining in Bailadilla
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: K. Subbarayan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3882

ANSWERED ON 17.07.2019

## MINING IN BAILADILLA

## 3882. SHRI SUBBARAYAN K:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that a 10 million tonne-per-annum (MTPA) iron ore deposit-13 on  the hill, abode  of  tribal Goddess  Pithor  Rani  in  Bailadilla district of Chhattisgarh  has  been  developed  by  NCL,  a  joint  venture  of  National  Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) and the Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation and is contracted to Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL);
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is a fact that the adivasis in the area are protesting against the mining of the hill as it is the abode of their Goddess Pithor Rani;
- (d) if so, the details and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (e) whether it is also a fact that all the trade unions have joined the protest against giving the contract to AEL as the NMDC is capable of undertaking the mining; and
- (f) if so, the details and the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINES, COAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

(a)&(b):  As  per  information  provided  by  National  Mineral  Development  Corporation (NMDC) (a public enterprise of the Ministry of Steel), NMDC-CMDC Limited (NCL) is a Joint Venture Company (JV Company) with  the  objective to  develop and operate 10 MTPA Bailadilla iron ore  Deposit  No.13.  The  JV  Company  awarded  the  Contract for development  and  operation  of  Deposit-13  Mine  to  M/s.  Adani  Enterprises  Limited (AEL) , appointing them as Mine Developer-cum-Operator based on lowest offer basis.

NMDC has informed that they are not aware of any place of  worship of tribal goddess Pithor Rani in Deposit No.13 as per the records available in NCL Project. The name  of  tribal  Goddess  Pithor  Rani  was  heard  only  during  the  agitation  by  local Villagers between 07.06.2019 to 12.06.2019.

(c)  to  (f):  On  04.06.2019,  Samyukt  Panchayat  Jan  Jagaran  Samithi,  Dakshin  Bastar Dantewada  submitted  a  representation  to  the  Collector,  Dakshin  Bastar  Dantewada that  they  are  going  to  protest  against  the  work  given  to  M/s  AEL  for  development  of Deposit  No.13  mine.  On  07.06.2019,  the  local  people  of  Bailadilla  Sector  under  the banner of Jan Sangharsh Samithi, Bailadilla Kirandul staged dharna at Bailadilla Iron Ore Mine, Kirandul check post till 13.06.2019 on the following issues:

- (i)  Awarding the Contract to M/s. AEL and
- (ii)  The  Gram Sabha which was held in the year 2014 for obtaining No Objection Certificate (NOC) under Forest Rights Act (FRA) for obtaining Forest Clearance claiming it is false and has to be re- conducted.
- (iii)  All  Mining  activities  to  be  stopped  since  it  is  a  place  of  worship  of  Tribal  God/ Goddess.

NMDC  has  reported  that  two  Trade  Unions  informed  them  to  extend  their support  to  'Sanyukta  Panchayat  Sangarsh  Samiti'  w.e.f.  08.06.2019. The  scope  of work given to AEL is to excavate the iron ire from the Mine, transportation and loading into railway wagons/trucks. The Mining Lease of Deposit-13 will remain with NCL and it will not be transferred to any other agency.

The  District  Administration  persuaded  the  Villagers  to  stop  Dharna  giving assurance  that  the  State  Government  will  enquire  into  this  within  15  days.  Besides, they took certain administrative action. District Collector/concerned Authorities of State Govt. of Chhattisgarh have issued notices for stopping all the activities of Deposit No. 13, village Hiroli, District, Dantewada.

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