Double role: mining watchdog is mining boss

Bahar Dutt , CNN-IBN
Posted on Aug 20, 2009 at 16:11 | Updated Aug 20, 2009 at 16:17

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New Delhi: Illegal mining is ruining some of India's best forests, but the top Government organisation in charge of preventing this might be directly responsible for it.

Documents available exclusively with CNN-IBN reveal that M L Mazumdar, chairperson of the Additional Expert Committee, which looks at approvals of mining projects in the country, is also on the board of directors of four mining companies.

Shockingly, all projects applied for by these four mining companies have got approval from the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Mazumdar sits on the board of Uranium Corporation India Ltd, which has had five projects cleared since 2006.

RGB Minerals, another company Mazumdar is part of, has had one project cleared. Adhunik Metaliks has had 10 projects cleared.

Hindustan Dorr Oliver Ltd, the fourth company, provides services to most mining companies applying to the Ministry for clearance.

Environment lawyer Ritwick Dutta, who filed a Right to Information (RTI) application to know how mining companies get environmental clearance, alleges the Ministry has almost a zero-rejection rate for mining projects

“When this RTI response came, it is very clear that the mining sector is getting an extremely high level of clearance because those people who should not be there are actually sitting there to decide. The mining industry today decides who should mine or who shouldn't mine,” alleges Dutta.

CNN-IBN tried contacting Majumdar but was told he is abroad and unavailable for comments. The Ministry hasn’t decided whether it should review all projects he has cleared.

More on: mining, illegal mining, mining in forests, environment ministry, M L Mazumdar, Additional Expert Committee, Citizens for Earth: Environment News