To offset the environmental damages of an iron ore slurry pipeline more than 100 km away, 8.7 acres of land have been planted with an unknown number and species of trees in a Schedule V area. In the case of dispossession of the Juang community, a particularly vulnerable tribe, both the FRA and the Atrocities Act have been violated.
Case Analysis
A Block Plantation at Lungajhar was taken up for compensatory afforestation in 2013. It is one of two sites meant to compensate for the diversion of 8.7 ha of forest for laying a slurry pipeline more than 100 km away near Duburi. Slurry pipelines are used to transport iron ore.
The total amount paid by Brahmani River Pellets Ltd was Rs. 1,65,20,893. At the time of the transaction, BRPL was 100% owned by Stemcor, a UK based mining company (Source) and the project involved a 218-km pipeline (see image on right).
The area by the compensatory afforestation plantations is 8.7 ha. at a cost of Rs. 2.5 Lakhs. The E-greenwatch site doesn’t provide the species or number of plants.
Satellite Imagery Analysis
Almost half of the plantation areas was under cultivation in 2010; rest of it is covered by shrubby secondary sal dominated growth. The area is largely cleared of vegetation in May of 2014, likely in preparation of plantation activity. Planted pits become visible in September 2014. In 2016, the whole area is under plantations.
Implications
This is a village in Scheduled V area inhabited by Juangs, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group who traditionally lay claim to the area and have applied for habitat rights. The forest rights act vests ownership of both forests and the cultivable area in the Juang community.
Regenerable shrubby forests have been cleared
The Forest Department has violated both Forest Rights Act and the Prevention of Atrocities Act by dispossessing Juangs of their land and forests.
e-Green Watch Record
