Other States - Orissa   

Biodiversity plan calls for restoration of natural vegetation

— Photo: Ashoke Chakrabarty

R.K.Mishra conservationist (third from left), flanked by other dignitaries is releasing the document on the State Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.

BHUBANESWAR: The State Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan (SBSAP) which was released here on Saturday called for implementation of suitable methods of top soil management and restoration of natural vegetation. The recommendation assumed significance in view of the unprecedented investment proposals in mineral sector in the State.

Going by the memoranda of understanding signed by the State government with private companies, at least 74 million tonne per annum steel production and 16,000 mw of thermal power generation are projected within a decade from now. It would require large-scale mining of iron ore as well as coal. Nature and Wildlife Conservation Society of Orissa (NWCSO), a voluntary organisation, had prepared the SBSAP as part of the National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan (NBSAP). “It has been clearly mentioned in the Mining Act 1960 that the topsoil removed in mining area while refilling it should be spread over on the top of barren soil, so that natural vegetation can come up, “SBSAP said. It, however, expressed concerns that, “in no mining site this practice is being followed. It seems the mines ignore the importance of top soil and dump it wherever they like and at times even cover it with soil coming from underground.

“Pointing out that a natural vegetation and balanced ecosystem cannot be compensated through manmade afforestation, the SBSAP stated non-exotic species should be allowed to grow naturally on the properly utilised top soil. Researchers also called for a public surveillance on mining sites. “The mining site should properly be inspected at regular intervals by the government, non-government and NGOs to see whether the miners stick to the regulations or not. “Further, in each and every mining site at lest 10 per cent to 15 per cent of the leased area should be kept undisturbed and protected which should remain as an eye opener for the miners, beneficiaries and general public to compare past with the present and predict the loss being made to bio-resources.

Although the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) did not the NBSAP, several states had come out with their respective action plans for preservation of bio-diversity. The report was released on the occasion of NWCSO’s silver jubilee meeting here. Ajit Kumar Patnaik, honorary secretary of the organisation gave a brief description about the activities undertaken by the NWCSO. Among others S. K. Patnaik, working president of the NWCSO and M. F Ahmed, former Inspector General of Forest (MoEF), were present.

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