Earlier in October, DNA had exposed how environment impact assessment reports are cooked up to facilitate an easy entry for mining companies into the Sindhudurg district in Maharashtra. This time, a leopard has lent credibility to the allegation.

The animal was sighted at the Dingane village near the Kalane iron ore mines the same area that figures in the iron ore mining proposal and an EIA report. No surprises that neither of the two reports has mentioned the presence of wild animals in the area.

The photograph of the leopard, taken in mid October, shows that this part of the Western Ghats is home to wild animals and that a more detailed and scientific environmental study must be conducted before going ahead with any mining activity.

DK Sawant of Dwarka Krushna Tourism Private Limited was part of the group that shot photos of the leopard. Mr Sawant a resident of Sawantwadi in Sindhudurga said that “We were going to the Dingane village on October 9. Around 6.30pm, the leopard came out on to the road and stopped in front of the car. I was there along with Prof Fatarfekar and two local journalists. We took the pictures and even did some video shooting.”

He added that two days later, some villagers claimed to have sighted a leopard. But, no visual proof is available for that.

Sindhudurg, which is at the southern-most corner of the state, bagged the tag of an eco tourism district in 1997. It also has the largest green cover in the state. No new mines have begun extraction in the district, except in Kalane, due to a moratorium imposed by the ministry of environment and forests.

Mr Ramesh Gauns one of the staunch opponents of mining in Goa and Sindhudurga told DNA that the photograph proves how carelessly the EIAs were made. He added that “There is no mention of wild animals in the EIAs. On the contrary, not only leopards but there are instances when even elephants have been seen in the jungles here. There has been no consideration for environment while giving mining leases to companies in the Western Ghats in Sindhudurga.”

The only way to bring out the truth, according to Mr Gauns is to acquire the list of wild animals in Sindhudurga under the Right to Information Act. The villagers have demanded cancellation of the existing EIAs and mining leases granted to the companies.

(Sourced from DNA)