Status of environment in Chotanagpur-Santal Pargana region of Jharkhand

Abstract

The Chotanagpur-Santal Pargana (CSP), the ‘Ruhr of India’ has been the cradle of mineral exploitation and mineral based industries since the dawn of 20th century. The post-Independence era witnessed a rapid growth in heavy industries and subsequent urbanisation. To cater the energy need, coal based power stations were installed in Damodar valley. Such economic ventures were concentrated mainly in the Damodar and Subernarekha river valleys. These anthropogenic activities triggered a series of environmental degradation. Large scale deforestation led to wide spread soil erosion due to which loss of valuable topsoil and lowering of water table has taken place. The preference for open cast mining practice for more mineral exploitation especially coal, iron ore and bauxite has further aggravated the problem in this fragile eco-system. The discharge of large volume of untreated or semi-treated industrial effluents has literally turned the river Damodar into an “industrial effluent channel.’ Besides being unethical and inhumane, these acts are a gross violation of environmental laws. Ironically, the major culprit industries are public sector undertakings. Even the highly polluted ambient air in the mining and associated industrial areas, especially in the Damodar valley has made the region a virtual gas chamber gradually pushing the local populace towards ‘extinction’. The vast surface water resources are trapped or are in a process to be trapped leading to submergence of large agricultural and forest area and displacement of local inhabitants which are mostly tribals. Almost all such act of ‘development’ has led to delinking of tribals from their root as well as distortion of socio-cultural fabric.