India: Despite environmental concerns, the Maharashtra state government initiate the resumption of bauxite mining in Kolhapur

The government of Maharashtra in India has resumed bauxite mining in the Kolhapur district once again. The state government is endeavouring to exclude 18 villages from starting an industrial estate in the Bhudargad taluka of the community. A request has been made to the government of India to look into 18 villages in Bhudargarh to establish an industrial estate in Devkewadi.

According to a notification from the central government, 184 villages in the Kolhapur district are classified as sensitive zones.

According to the state government, thirty-one settlements will be excluded from these vulnerable zones. Out of these 17 villages, the state government has requested the central government set up an industrial estate in one village to start bauxite mining and exclude all 13 villages as they are outside sensitive areas. Therefore, if the efforts being made by the state government are successful, bauxite mining will start again in the Kolhapur district.

Dr Madhukar Bachulkar, a botanist from Kohlapur and a senior environmentalist, has expressed his fear following the resumption of bauxite mining. Bachulkar has appealed that the environmentalists send letters to the central and state governments by e-mail demanding that no villages in sensitive areas be included. However, the government of India has ordered the exclusion of 388 villages out of 2133 villages included in the 17,340 sq km sensitive area declared for the state.

The thirteen villages that the Maharashtra state government claims are beyond the sensitive region are Hajgoli Khurd Kerakbol in Ajra Taluka, Bidri, Hanbarwadi, Murukate in Bhudargad Taluka, Karanjafen in Phanswadi Radhanagari Taluka, Sawarde, Ainwadi, Mhalaswade, Panundre, Shirole near Malkapur, and Sonar.

The state government is trying to start excavation in a total of 17 villages, namely Ogoli, Dhamapur, Kannur Khurd, Pilani, Pundra, Shahuwadi taluk Muramba, Dhangarwadi, Girgaon, Manoli, Nivel, Shirole towards Varun, Udgiri, Yelvan Jugai, Radhanagari taluk Padsali, Patpanhala and Ramanwadi in Bhudargad taluk and Vasanoli in Bhudargad taluk.