Noamundi: A public hearing of Mahaveer Manganese Mines was organized at Badabaljuri Government School under the aegis of Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board on Friday. The project pertains to the production of 8500 metric ton manganese per year and mining clearance of 21.246 hectare land.
The villagers likely to be affected by mining activities are spread across 11 villages. They along with the public representatives participated in the public hearing. The villagers unanimously gave a green light to the manganese mining project as the mines are manually operated. The ADC Chaibasa Jay Shankar Prasad presided over the hearing.
Speaking on the occasion, the regional officer R N Choudhary said, �The mines lessee is to follow meticulously the various provisions of pollution control implied in the environmental law. The lessee must build up green belt by plantation within the mining area , settling tank for the storage of waste materials so that there will remain no scope of wastage with rain water to flow down to the stream. If necessary, the lessee should also construct check dam.�
The ADC said the villagers should be given employment opportunities in the manual mines and the Corporate Social Responsibility initiative should be taken for the development of villages surrounding the mines area. The mines manager Vimal Chandra Pal said, �We will provide jobs to the villagers according to their ability. Basic facilities will also be given to the villagers, especially to women.�
