Minister ‘warns’ NGO for opposing mining plan

Babanrao Pachpute, the state forest minister, wants a mining project on the outskirts of Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve. So much so that he has threatened an NGO of dire consequences for opposing the project.

During a meeting at Nagpur on January 20, activists of Shrushti Paryavaran Mandal in Nagpur were stunned to see Pachpute losing his cool and threatening them after they objected to the coal mine project of Adani Mining Ltd. The minister, according to a person present at the meet, said, “Do not try my patience. I am a believer in non-violence.”
The forest minister’s support for a mining project shocked even senior forest department officials. Pachpute wanted suggestions from the NGO to reduce the impact of mining on the surrounding forest. He even proposed to form a committee. But the activists wanted the proposal to be scrapped. And this upset the minister.

“Me ahimsavadi aahe. Majhya ahimsechay maryadanche tumhi ullaghan karat aahat. (I am a believer of non-violence. You are crossing the limits),” Pachpute said.
A forest official said this was not expected of a cabinet minister.

“We had a hard time to come to terms with the situation after he made the statement.”
Pachpute told DNA that the meeting was called to discuss wildlife conservation plan. “I made it clear that no one should oppose development. We have formed a committee to discuss ways to mitigate the adverse effect of mining on the forest,” he said.

A 10-member committee, headed by the conservator of forests, Shailendra Bahadur, has been formed to find ways to minimise the effects. But B Majumdar, the principal chief conservator of forest, wildlife, has strongly opposed Bahadur’s appointment because he is the nodal officer who will also look into the paperwork of the proposed mine.

Swanand Soni of the NGO said, “We are not against power generation. But the company should explore other sources of coal.” Soni, who was named in the committee without his consent, has opted out of it.