Collieries set to annihilate rare animals in Jharkhand

Sanjeeb Baruah

The last of the evergreen forests

Palamau Tiger Reserve

Few places in India match the grandeur of the rich evergreen forests and meadows of Jharkhand. More than 200 different species of avifauna lived in the pristine forests of Jharkhand. Rampant mining in the last three decades has now reduced the state to a coal producer to feed the energy-starved nation.

Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) in collaboration with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) Jharkhand undertook a Rapid Action Project (RAP) in the uppermost section of River Damodar to document this ecological impact caused by the massive industrial projects. The RAP documents, how rampant mining in Damodar valley has depleted the forest cover that were once traditional foraging grounds of wild elephants and other herbivores. Noise, air, and water pollution from these establishments have devastated wild habitats and the fragile ecosystem of the region.

Justin Imam of INTACH undertook a study of the five districts of Palamau, Latehar, Chatra, Hazaribagh, and Koderma in north Jharkhand. Damodar valley is extensively covered by moist tropical rain forests with a geographical area of 25,000 sq. km. The Damodar river criss-crosses the two districts of Hazaribagh and Koderma and the River Koel runs through Palamau and Latehar districts. Chatra district falls in the Ganga river basin. These areas are considered the last remaining wild reserves of Jharkhand. Another prominent wildlife area is in the Singhbhum district of south Jharkhand. A wide variety of flora and fauna exists in both these areas.  

Forests in Chatra

The study has highlighted how fragmented forests, limited food base and settlements in close proximity to wild habitats brought myriad problems and insecurity to the region’s nomadic wild animals. Their small isolated habitats are today inter-connected merely by narrow forest corridors that they commonly use. Wildlife corridors are defined as linear patches of vegetation providing linkage between two habitats. These measured linkages sometimes are small chunks of fragmented forests connecting two larger habitats.

These corridors are of critical importance for maintaining genetic viability in a population and for the development of genetic symmetry of wild animals, in addition to providing a passage for wandering animals in search of food or prospective mate. Destruction of such vital contiguity of forests that provides linkages to different wild habitats, are a catalyst for isolated pockets of wild animals being pushed to the brink of extinction.

Ironically, barring the National parks and Sanctuaries, very little is known about these important wildlife areas. Wildlife corridors play a crucial role in the survival of many endangered wild species and modern day scientific theories of conservation acknowledge this fact. The situation is more distressing for long ranged animals, such as elephants, leopards and tigers. Large herbivores and predators require large areas for sustenance and natural expansion of species.

Assessing the impact

The RAP has documented the large forest areas that were cleared in an apparent bid for creation and expansion of coalfields in the Damodar valley. During the eighties, coal companies in Jharkhand acquired thousands of acres of forest land for coal mining operations in the Damodar valley. The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) was not obligatory since it was not introduced then. The Forest Conservation Act of 1980 also prohibits such activities in forest areas, however it was not known how mining proliferated in forest areas despite this Act.

Tetariyatarn coal mines in Latehar

As a result, the coal-mining companies got a freehand for establishing coalfields in forest areas that once served as vital eco-sensitive reserves. EIA Notification was introduced only in 1994 by the Government of India making it mandatory for any project proponent to seek prior environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests for undertaking any activity, which is listed in the Schedule to the Notification.  In addition to seeking environmental clearance for new projects, the EIA notification is also applicable to any expansion or modernization of existing industry or processes.

Hence, at present it is merely the individual responsibility of the companies to see that the environment impact from such activities reduced to a minimum. In the absence of this vital piece of legislation from the scene, neither is the Jharkhand Forest Department nor the coal mining companies are directly accountable that could bring them under scrutiny; consequently, the looming threats to wildlife and environment. 

In addition to that, in 1987 for setting up the North Karanpura coalfields project of Central Coalfields Ltd. (CCL) in Damodar valley, the Survey of India maps do not show forest cover in the mining areas. The company then used the forest department’s cadastral maps of 1950 that classified these areas as people’s community owned forests or the Commons. Also thirty-three of the cadastral maps were unavailable as they were under various stages of preparation by the forest department. Hence, the maps produced by the coal company to the forest department at the time of acquiring the lands for the designated coalfields were found to be incorrect. Thus, the mining company is not liable or legally bound to give the forest department compensation for such forests that they treat as non-existent forests on lands belonging to them. Consequently, a new precedent was created by the altered identity of the forest landscape of the areas. All predicaments about forests and wildlife conservation in the respective areas have radically changed.
 
As per the existing laws i.e. post 1994, in addition to EIA, all industrial units are required to prepare Environment Management Plan (EMP) declaring the environmental safeguards adopted by the company and to espouse in principle the environment protection policies stipulated by the government. 

Coal industry in Jharkhand

The state of Jharkhand has a geographical area of about 7.97 million hectares and the recorded forest cover is about 2.3 million hectares. As per the Jharkhand Forest Department records 18.59% constitute reserve forests, 81.27% constitute protected areas and a mere 0.14% unclassified forests.

Indian coal mining industry is now the third largest in the world after USA and China, producing nearly 280 million tonnes of black coal. Domestic demand for coal rose enormously due to rapid industrial developments. Coal provides 52 per cent of India’s energy requirement. Coal India Limited (CIL) is one of the largest coal companies of the world and much of its activities take place in Jharkhand.

Coal mining operations in Jharkhand are administered by CCL. The company now has 69 collieries and 5 coal washeries under revenue production, 30 mining projects, and 20 non-mining projects. The command area of CCL comprises 11 coalfields: East Bokaro, West Bokaro, Ramgarh, North Karanpura, South Karanpura, Daltonganj, Auranga, Hutar, Jayanti and Sherghati, and Giridih. The total area of these coalfields is approximately 2,700 square kilometers, though only 1,750 sq km of it is suitable for mining. Strangely enough, most of these coalfields are located in corridors areas.

Sikni coal mines, Latehar

Polluting collieries threaten wildlife

The two premiere coal companies in the state, Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) and Jharkhand State Mining Development Corporation (JSMDC), established their coalmines to mitigate the energy crisis faced by the country at that time. The north and south Karanpura coalfields and the coalfields located in the Singhbhum district of south Jharkhand exert pressure to wild habitats of the region. Some of these coalmines fall in forest areas where wild animals are known to visit, while at other places coalmines are critically close to wildlife sanctuaries and national parks.

Justin Imam has highlighted in the report that coal industry requires thousands of liters of fresh water every day for use in their coal washery. For this purpose, river water sourced from large dams and reservoirs is siphoned through large canals and pipelines. The industrial wastes generated from these plants are subsequently released to a nearby river through these canals and pipelines. This practice over the years has resulted in widespread pollution and health hazards to villagers who depend on river water for the day-to-day water needs. Polluted rivers have also caused serious problems to wildlife in Jharkhand.

Some important coalmines of Jharkhand include Sikini (JSMDC), Tetariyatarn (CCL), KD Hesalong (CCL), Pipawar (CCL), and Ashoka I & II opencast coalmines (CCL). These coalmines extract coal much beyond their threshold capacity and as a result, large industrial wastes generated every day make it more difficult for safe disposal. In addition, the proposed Tubed captive coalmine of HINDALCO, Magadh (CCL), and Amrapalli coalmines (CCL) in the state also raise serious environmental concerns, which were articulated by various nature conservation organizations. Industrial wastes from unchecked industrial growth bear serious consequences to the environment and the survival of all species on earth and a contemporary challenge that manifests in all countries. Their reduction and safe disposal is a priority area that all companies should adhere to.  

The dry North Koel river at Garu, Palamau

Imam reported that large dams in the state that were constructed for power plants and to meet water requirements of different industries, resulted in recurring droughts in many areas affecting both flora and fauna. Wild animals that traditionally depended on these water bodies were forced to travel to far-flung areas for their water needs, resulting in large-scale displacement of wild animals. Garhi Dam Project in Tandwa (STPP), Auranga Dam Project, Tandwa Super Thermal Power Plant (STPP) etc, and a host of extractive industries in Jharkhand added pressure to the already water deficient state.  

Man-animal conflict limiting the chances of survival

The impact from numerous developmental projects over the years in Jharkhand, have caused enormous devastation to wildlife and wild habitats and in recent times, it has become more evident from the rising number of cases of man-animal conflicts and distressed animals reported from different areas of the region. The study has covered the forest areas and wildlife habitats of the region and evaluated the present habitat condition and the existing population of wild animals. Wild animals sighted in the corridor areas were then compared with the previous records of the forest department and animal sightings reported by the villagers.

Houses in a village in Hazaribagh destroyed by elephants

Decrease in vital forest cover that once served as important wildlife corridors have resulted in man-animal conflicts, and were extensively documented in mining areas of Latehar, Chatra, Hazaribagh, and Bokaro districts. Human casualties from such violent clashes have also increased in recent years. Incidence of wild elephants that raided human settlements, destroyed crops, and houses, and causing injury to villagers has become a regular phenomenon in some areas. According to Justin Imam, twenty such cases were reported in Patratu, south of Hazaribagh in the month of September this year.  In 2003, twenty elephants have reportedly died due to various reasons such as, man-elephant conflict, poaching, electrocution, accidents due to train hits, disease, old age, etc.    

Elephants in Jharkhand are generally confined to two areas, Palamau Tiger Reserve, and Dalma Elephant reserve comprising the Saranda forest areas of Singhbhum. Palamau reportedly has 215 elephants while Dalma has 424 elephants. Palamau Tiger Reserve comprises Betla National Park, Palamau Wildlife Sanctuary, and Mahuaduar Wildlife Sanctuary.

During the hot and dry summer months, wild animals in Palamau Tiger Reserve choose to remain in the forests. However, during the monsoons and in winters, large animals such as elephants, cheetal, barking deer, tigers, and leopards venture out of the park. These animals sneak into the neighboring villages and thereafter migrate to other areas through various inter-linking corridors. During these months, the maize (corn) crops ripen, which the animals feed on. Until the paddy harvest in October, these animals would stay put and raid the crops. Animals in small herds move north and eastwards to reach as far as Mc. Cluskiegunj (Ranchi) and from there they move further eastwards into the Hazaribagh forests. During these months, elephants are more commonly sighted. Sparse herds of deer and other smaller animals are also seen in the corridor areas.     

Houses destroyed in Bishungarh near Hazaribagh

Tigers in Jharkhand are also affected due to habitat loss and fast declining prey base. Researchers estimate that due to frequent hunting of herbivores such as wild boar and deer by the villagers that served as important prey base of tigers their survival is gravely affected. In many areas, the surviving cats were forced to turn to livestock that brought quick reprisal most often with fatal injuries by the villagers who shoot, snare, poison or even burn forests to kill or drive them away.

Cases of cattle lifting recently reported from Siris-Doke hills that stretches from Manika up to Pathke forests west of Latehar, is clear evidence of the dwindling prey base in the region. Fragmented forests and human habitation close to their habitats have further compounded the problem.

Dalma, Koderma, Mahuaduar, Palkot, Lawalang, Prasnath, Topchanchi, Udhwa Lake, Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuaries, Betla National Park, and Palamau Tiger Reserve (Betla NP, Palamau WLS, and Mahuaduar WLS) are important wildlife sanctuaries of Jharkhand. Many of these Sanctuaries are located in the northern parts of the Chottanagpur plateau.

Wildlife corridor areas in the region comprise forest divisions of Betla, Palamau, Latehar, and Chandwa. Some important wildlife corridors are Chatra–Itkhori–Hazaribagh National Park–Koderma, Chatra–Simariya–Tandwa (south), and Simariya–Katkamsandi--Hazaribagh National Park–Dato (north). Commonly sighted animals in the region include elephant, sloth bear, tiger, leopard, jackal, wolf, fox, bear, cheetal, sambar, barking deer (kotri), and wild boar.

The future

Evergreen forests in Latehar

The concept of wildlife corridors is relatively new and recognition of this concept as a vital component of wildlife conservation was recognized only in recent times. The present study in Jharkhand has focused on this aspect of conservation and the important contribution that the wildlife corridors provide for long-term conservation of wildlife.
 
In view of these industrial units, that has endangered the crucial wild habitats and polluted the environment for the misery of thousands of villagers and wildlife that has every right for clean environment and right to existence, needs review of all policies that has domineering implication on them. For effectively guarding our precious environment from further degradation and for securing crucial wildlife corridors for conservation of wild animals, strict implementation of EIA and transparency in EMPs of all industrial units in Jharkhand will be vital.

The 21st Century has ushered in rapid economic growth in all sectors in India; be it housing, architecture, agriculture, power generation, and pioneering works of construction. This rapid and

Hills above Maromar and Garu in Palamau Tiger Reserve

often unregulated pace of development has exerted tremendous pressure on the environment. As a result, the intellectual brinkmanship that was supposed to help mankind to ease perennial problems of drinking water, pollution, congestion, disease, poverty alleviation, education, and livelihood, remained elusive even after more than fifty years of the country’s independence. 

The present state of Jharkhand is one such glaring example where innumerable and unregulated developmental projects have not only created an adverse impact on the environment but also increased the chances of grave health risk due to continual air, water, and soil pollution. The precious forest covers are being cleared at an alarming rate for expansion of coalfields, mining and extractive industries proliferate at an unfettered pace and water bodies are being diverted at source for construction of dams to meet the growing energy requirements and to achieve rapid economic growth. 

At this decisive state of affairs, it is no wonder then, to think what the future holds in the gradual degradation of environment and looming threats of extinction to wildlife and habitats. The flora and fauna of Jharkhand are the most affected by these developments and eventually they may stage a premature exit, if immediate and positive steps for their conservation are not initiated.

Pix credit: Justin Imam INTACH