SC panel visits Panna diamond mines

Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN | Jan 11, 2012, 03.45AM IST NAGPUR: A seven-member Supreme Court committee visited the Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday to inspect diamond mines and issues related to mine closure plan and utilization of funds towards various mitigation measures. The committee members comprising HS Negi from National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), chief of Wildlife Protection Society of India ( WPSI) Belinda Wright, National Board for Wildlife ( NBWL) member Kishor Rithe as MoEF representative, MP PCCF for wildlife and panel chief HS Pabla, APCCFs TR Sharma and Dharmendra Shukla, Panna field director RS Murthy and others visited the Majhgawan diamond mines. A meeting will be held on Wednesday at Karnavati in Mandla. The mines outside the reserve were being operated without environmental clearance since 1995, and were closed on direction of the Supreme Court in 2005. However, in August 2008, the court allowed mining by National Mining Development Corporation (NMDC). The NMDC is to spend 5% of its total capital cost for afforestation activities in the Panna forest area, and an environment impact monitoring committee has been set up to oversee efforts for approval and monitoring of annual work plan of the funds and issues related to diamond mining. The committee was set up on August 13, 2008, and the first meeting held on June 2, 2011. Tuesday's meeting was the second one. The committee looked into mine closure plan and annual work plan for utilization of funds received from NMDC. Panna has been famous for diamonds since long and the diamond belt covers about 1,000 sq km. The mining has fragmented Panna reserve, where the tiger population has already reduced to a bare minimum. NMDC's Majhgawan mine is about 20km away from Panna and approachable by an all-metal road from Panna and Khajuraho. During the last meeting, NMDC had provided a 21-point compliance report and has expedited preparation of conservation plan for endangered flora and fauna. The Panna field director has submitted an Rs 8.74 crore proposal for mitigation measures. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/SC-panel-visits-Panna-diamond-mines/articleshow/11442453.cms