Undermining India: Impacts of Mining on Ecologically Sensitive Areas

Neeraj Vagholikar and Kaustubh Moghe, with Ritwick Dutta, 2003, reprinted in 2004

Existing and proposed mining activities threaten ecologically sensitive areas across India. These include protected areas and wildlife corridors; other areas rich in biodiversity and crucial water catchments. Many of these areas are also home to tribal peoples and other communities whose livelihood security is threatened by mining. While a substantial number of the mining threats are from ongoing mining (both large and small), a major emerging threat is new mining, particularly in light of the liberalization of the mining sector in the past few years which has ‘opened up’ access to more areas.
This report covers the following: a national picture of ecologically sensitive areas threatened by existing or proposed mining activities; an analysis of the legal and policy framework on mining and environment; the response of citizens and Indian courts to mining threats, a review of current practices for ecological amelioration of abandoned mines; and a set of concrete recommendations on the issue.

Pp105, Rs.75, USD 8

Large Dams for Hydropower in Northeast India: A Dossier

Compiled by Manju Menon with Kanchi Kohli

More large dams are being proposed in Northeast India than in any other part of India. Yet very little organised information is available about what is happening in this region. This Dossier is an attempt by SANDRP and Kalpavriksh to provide information about the large dams being planned, constructed and operated in the region. The dossier contains case studies and notes about some projects in the region, thematic papers on issues related to large dams, official documents and media reports on some of the projects and citizens' responses to such development projects through memoranda and resolutions. The last section in the dossier contains information regarding some central and local legislation that governs environmental decision making of river valley projects. Knowledge of these could help citizens understand the process of decision making and thereby utilise the opportunities available for participating in it.

The information in the dossier could also be used for further investigations and understanding of impacts of commissioned and proposed projects in the region.

Kalpavriksh and South Asia Network on dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP)
Pp 228, Rs.150 for individuals; Rs.300 for institutions