Buxwaha Jungles, India | Deforestation | Climate Change | Diamonds | Is Aditya Birla Group's desire for more profit actual culprit ?
Welcome to my blog, in this blog I will present my analysis and findings to clarify in very simple words an extremely important topic running across the length & breadth of India.
Fig 1: Map of Buxwaha Jungle |
Recently the Government (Govt.) granted permission to cut down 2,15,875 Trees for Diamond Mining by Aditya Birla group company Essel Mining, this will not only result in a very large scale deforestation but will also have negative impact on Tiger conservation, loss of plants & animals species and a deep risk to local Tribal people who have been living in this area for 100s of years. The worst of all: this area is drought prone so deforestation will further increase the problem of water shortage. Additionally an important point to note: Diamond Mining is a water intensive project.
On the other hand the Government already assured that it will re-plant a lot more trees than deforested, also the Govt. promises that this project will increase the economic development of the area and will create many jobs for the people and will help the area suffering from unemployment.1. History
Lets us try to decode this Buxwaha Forest controversy. It all started in the year January 2004 when Rio Tinto (an Anglo Australian company) discovers that beneath this area there is a very large deposit of Diamonds, apparently the diamond deposit was code named as Bunder(Monkey in Hindi) due to the fact that this region has lot of monkeys (Biodiversity loss begins).
2. Further Development
Fig 3 |
3. Environmental Impact
This was a great news for Rio Tinto; however this news does not appeared pleasing to many environmentalists as the place was close to Panna Tiger Reserve which would have been negatively affected by diamond mine, also uncountable monkeys would have been negatively impacted and most importantly the lifeline of Panna Tiger Reserve- Ken River which is also home to alligators would also suffer a heavy loss due to this Diamond Mines. In fact another wildlife reserve sanctuary Ken Garihal Sanctuary is also present in close proximity of 150 k.ms. Lastly Buxwaha Jungles itself have its own a nature reserve that would be at a great loss.
Fig 4 |
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Fig 6 |
Later MP Police declares that Shehla Masood died due to a real estate dispute however MP Police's low credibility and pressure from world forces Central (Congress) Govt. to transfer this case to reputed Central Bureau of Investigation (C.B.I), after investigation CBI releases its finding and declares that Shehla Masood died due to a twisted love triangle.
The story of Shehla Masood's murder is very complicated and deep, if you are interested to read it more please refer The Guardian Article.
4. Halt of Diamond Mining and Good Bye of Rio Tinto:
After the murder of Shehla Masood the environmental protest continues specifically lead by Valmik Thappar and NGO Pahal.
Fig 7 |
After the release of both 2016 reports the Centre's BJP Govt. finally rejects the proposal for Diamond Mining. The decision leaves Rio Tinto frustrated and finally they makes a last request to mine in a small area of only 76.43 Hectares from an earlier approved area of 954 Hectares. However the Forest Committee again rejects the proposal stating, "mining on 76.43 Hectares will also leave a negative impact on remaining high quality forest."
Fig 8 |
Eventually on 7th Feb 2017 Rio Tinto moves out of Buxwaha and handed over everything to MP State Govt.
Finally Forests, Tigers, Monkeys, Alligators and Tribals all get saved, a Happy Ending till next election.
5. Ecological Demon Arrives Again:
Fig 9 |
- Aditya Birla Group's Essel Mining.
- Adani Group's Kolari Mines.
- Rungta Mines
- Vedanta Group
- National Mineral Development Corporation
6. Individual's Critical Thinking:
I urge the readers just to think with a broad mindset all the natural reserves like Jungles, Rivers, Mountains, Wildlife etc. who owns them?, Is govt owning them?, I feel nobody owns the natural resources of Earth.
Nevertheless coming back to our topic: a Jungle is sold to a Private Company which uses it to make money and that money is shared by the Govt. What does the Citizens gets? Jobs? The jobs referred here are labour class mining jobs that just have few rupees of monthly wages and is extremely hazardous of one's health. Ultimately the diamonds extracted will be bought by less than 1% of people because its a luxury item not everyone can afford it.
Fig 10 |
Interesting fact: Aditya Birla Group was the top donor to Congress in elections of 2014 (Fig 10) and in 2019 elections Aditya Birla Group was a Top Donor to Modi's BJP Govt. After 2019 PM Modi totally removed corporal bonds and made(rename) Electoral Bond, after creation of Electoral Bond people can not know which company donated how much to which political party, Is it right? RTI killed.
Fig 11 |
Also as per the report the water requirement for 1 diamond plant is 16,050 cubic meters/ day i.e. approx 5.9 million cubic meters/ year. 1 cubic meter is 1000 litres of water, so in a year 5900 million litres of water will be used by just 1 Diamond Plant.
7. The Business of Diamonds:
An English proverb says Money Begets Money ; try to understand the ultimate output of this mine-Diamonds. Who can buy diamonds only riches ornament and jewels are not the only use of diamonds of course diamond is also used in other Mechanical Tools but we have enough diamond to make Tools.
Fig 12 |
Fig 12 clearly shows which company in what percent controls the supply of Diamonds.
8. Conclusion and my opinion:
We have discussed enough to conclude this topic and here is my take:
1. Economic Growth: The Govt says the Diamond Mining project will bring Jobs; has govt conducted a survey among local people if they are happy to do an extremely health hazardous mine's labour jobs; has govt asked the local tribal people how they are happily living inside and with the jungle for 100s of year with their own indigenous way of economic development which is also highly sustainable. The answer is obviously no; normal citizen will not opt for cleaning of forest for a petty wage driven job.
Fig 13 |
Fig 14 |
Many Research have certified that Lab Grown Diamonds are as good as Natural Diamonds infact a European diamond brand Pandora has also stated that they will no longer use mined diamonds and will only use the Lab grown Diamonds. So I find no reason to use mined diamonds.
Fig 15 |
A group like Aditya Birla who is so rich and very reputed shall invest in establishing a revolutionary solution in which carbon dioxide is extracted from atmosphere and later carbon is extracted releasing oxygen back in air and using the carbon to make diamonds.
Fig 16 |
I strongly request Aditya Birla group to stop the Diamond Mine Project as it can potentially result in loss of Wildlife, Forests, Tigers and Cultural Loss of Tribal People life. Urge Aditya Birla group to try this new eco friendly way of Diamond Creation.
न चोरहार्यं न च राजहार्यंन भ्रातृभाज्यं न च भारकारी । व्यये कृते वर्धते एव नित्यं विद्याधनं सर्वधन प्रधानम्
This is really an eye opener and shocking reality that how riches are putting entire mankind on stake for petty material gains. This calls for a revolution and we are together in it. Stay strong and spread the awareness.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sanjay for your feedback
DeleteNicely written and fact based article, well done Nishant.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dear Reader
DeleteTrue nature first, time to save/change our life style which never impact nature... save nature.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your feedback Jayakumar
DeleteInteresting facts which hold me till end. You have covered almost all aspects. Well done.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot dear reader
DeleteGood research done for this article. Very informative.
ReplyDeleteThanks dear reader, please consider sharing, awareness is the least we can do to protect jungles
DeleteVery well articulated and explained all aspects around whole diamond SCAM market. Sadly govt. is looking at trading natural habitats for rocks.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot dear reader, if you like please share awareness is required to stop this mass deforestation.
Delete