Abstract

The present serious environmental and ecological problem has arisen from large scale deforestation, which in turn has led to increased soil erosion, silting of rivers, increasing temperature, and floods. At one time Saranda Reserve Forest used to be a dense forest rich in flora and fauna. Due to mining activities, settlement of new villages in forest, Naxal violence, and smuggling of wood forest area shrank consequently leading to climatic changes and stoppage of perennial sources in hilly forest area. It is estimated that more than 10,000 hectares of virgin forest with over 80 per cent canopy cover has been devastated by ongoing mining activities and settlement of new villages in many parts of forest. Destruction of Saranda Reserve Forest has caused extinction of many rare species of flora and fauna and has turned land into follow wasteland.

Saranda forest is a dense forest in the hilly region of West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, India. This area was formerly the private hunting reserve of the Singh Deo family (the erstwhile royal family of Saraikela). The forest covers an area of 820 km² and the co-ordinates are 22°12′ North to 85°21′ East, and elevation of the area is 927.00m to 550.00m. Saranda literally means seven hundred hills, which occupies a significant place in ecological history as the finest and largest Sal forest in the world. Saranda has been the training school for generations of foresters for over a century and is a prime elephant habitat also. It forms the core of the Singhbhum Elephant Reserve with an estimated 150 elephants in about 820 sq km of the forest. Thalkobad is a scenic village at a height of 550 m (1,800 ft) in the heart of the forest. Thalkobad is about 46 km (29 mi) from Manoharpur and about 160 km (99 mi) from Jamshedpur. One can reach in the lap of Saranda Forest via Jamshedpur or via Ranchi. Jamshedpur is well connected with trains from Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Puri. Ranchi has airlines connections too. From Jamshedpur or Ranchi one has to reach to Chaibasa, which is 140 km from Ranchi and 60 km from Jamshedpur. From Chaibasa one should come to Jhinkpani, Hatgamaria, Badajamda, and then to Baraibura, a total drive of nearly 80 km. At Baraiburu, the first forest check post of Saranda greets you. From here one has to go Kiriburu-Meghahatuburu 25 km away.

In 2001, the district was declared an elephant reserve under the Central Government’s Project Elephant, but the number of elephants has gone down from 424 in 2002 to 375 in 2005. “High iron ore content in the rivers makes the water unfit for drinking. The noise of trucks carrying ore scares elephants away from Saranda, which is their habitat. According to R K Singh, who did doctoral research in Saranda between 1993 and 1998, “Mining, along with unmanaged tailing disposal into the river system is the biggest threat to elephant conservation.”

The Gajah Report, authored by the MoEF, constituted the Elephant Task Force and states that mining in elephant reserves should be subjected to approval from the National Elephant Conservation Authority whose constitution was mooted by the Prime Minister’s Office.

It is mining that is killing the soul of Saranda. Underneath this pristine Sal forest lays one of the richest repositories of iron ore. Existing mines have already destroyed extensive swathes of Saranda. It is estimated that more than 1,100 hectares of virgin forest with over 80 per cent canopy cover has been devastated by ongoing mining in many parts, such as in Gua, Ghatkuri, Hathi-gate, Baraiburu, Tatiba, Jhandiburu, Kiriburu, and Chiriya/Manoharpur of ‘Elephant Hill’.

A slew of big-ticket companies besides Jindal, Rungta, Electro Steel, Adhunik Group, Arcelor Mittal, Tata Steel, and Essar, others have reportedly signed MoUs with the State Government in anticipation of getting the green flag and are eying Saranda, not unlike vultures-in-waiting… waiting for the forest to die.

Sal (Shorea robusta) is the most important tree in the area and it prefers to grow on the rocky soil of the area. Although Sal is a deciduous tree and sheds its leaves in early summer, the forest is generally evergreen with trees, such as mangoes, jamun, jackfruit, and pear. Other important trees are mahua, kusum, tilai, harin hara (Armossa rohitulea), gular (Fiscus glomerata), and asan. The reserved forests are the haunt of many animals. Wild elephants are common in Saranada forests. Herds of sambar and chital roam around the forests. Bison and leopards are commonly found in this forest. Tigers were never numerous but they are there.

Elephants are found in Central India over an area of 17000 sq. km in Jharkhand, Odisha, and in the southern part of West Bengal. Elephants use Ankua-Ambia corridor to move from Saranda to Kolhan Forest Division. This range occupy the most fragmented elephant habitat of the country that has been degraded due to mining, shifting cultivation, and development activities.

Saranda is full of exciting and colourful flora and fauna. It is known for its majestic Sal trees. Besides Sal, large number of trees, herbs, shrubs, mammals, birds, and reptiles decor this beautiful forest. Moreover, its majestic elephants are known all over the world. The magical sunrise and sunset of Kiriburu in the hills of Saranda is spectacular.

Saranda Forest is a golden treasure of wildlife. This forest is home for the endangered flying lizard. This place is enriched with more than 40 species of mammals, 162 species of birds, 9 species of amphibians, and 33 species of reptiles. The wild elephants of this place are well known in the country.

Saranda forest is inhabited by the `ho' people. Thalkobad is a scenic village at a height of 550m (1,800 ft) in the heart of the forest. Thalkobad is about 46 km (29 mi) from Manoharpur, and about 160 km (99 mi) from Jamshedpur. Kiriburu-Meghahatuburu is a famous tourist spot in Saranda forest. Kiriburu is a lovely place in Saranda at a height of 2800 ft. The view of sunrise and sunset is noteworthy from this picturesque hill station. SAIL guest house is an important view point in Saranda and its neighbouring places. Ligirada Swamp is another botanical paradise spanning over 7-8 acres. It is a narrow marshy land and is 4 km away from Thalkobad forest rest house. Toybo Falls is 20 km away from Thalkobad. The valley of this Fall is an ideal play ground for the elephants who frequently visit this place.



In Saranda forest there are many temples. Among them is the famous temple of Mahadeva located near Goelkera, situated deep inside the forest. In the month of Shravana, a large number of devotees come every year. Maa Giri Rajeshwrai temple is situated 10 km from Kiriburu- Meghahatuburu. During Navaratri, a festival of nine days is organized in this temple.

The impact of mining includes soil erosion, formation of sinkholes, loss of biodiversity, and contamination of soil, groundwater, and surface water by chemicals from mining process. Mining companies are required to ensure that the mine area is returned to the Forest Department in its original state. All mining companies are using the forest land more than the approved diverted area by MoEF and Forest Department. A committee should be formed to restrict the mining and allied activities within the approved diverted area and the penalty should be charged or mine should be closed for those not complying its recommendations. The Central or State Government Agencies, such as MoEF, IBM, Mining Department, Pollution Control Board, and Forest Department are inspecting the mine, but they are not inspecting in details for survival of the ecological balance against the illegal mining activities.

Mining has a great potential to change the landscape. It damages the ground vegetation, disturbs the ground water table and surface water by dumping, and washes off the ores and minerals. It is essential to conserve the natural eco-system by systematic and scientific planning, installing and maintaining air pollution control measures, and optimizing energy and water utilization processes for sustainable and eco-friendly mining and processing operation.

Underneath this pristine Sal forest lays one of the country’s richest repositories of iron ore. But existing mines have already damaged swathes of Saranda in the 85,000 hectares (ha) of the Saranda division. About 16 iron ore mines are working in the 6526.369 ha of lease area, 12 mines in 2892.344 ha of lease area are closed due to pending of FC proposal at MoEF, and around 11 proposed mining leases have been applied for 6505.50 ha of area in Kodlibad, Karampada, Ghatkuri, and Anqua compartment in Saranda by different companies, such as Tata steel, Mittal, Jindal, Essar, Adhunik, Electro Steel, Rungta Group, etc.

Total mining lease (existing + close + proposed) area is 15924.013 ha for iron ore mining. After all this, the burning issue left of the forest is the future of the Saranda forest. The last six years have seen an increase in mining. Illegal mining in and around the forest is rampant. Thousands of trucks jam the roads leading to the forest from Chaibasa past Noamundi, disturbing people and damaging ecology. Now, the illegal mining is stopped due to visit of Sri MB Sah commission.

Karo and Koina are the two perennial rivers playing an important part in the drainage system of the area. Karo river is the source of water for mining and allied activities (including water supply for colony) in the leasehold. Mining in Saranda has led to extensive silting and pollution of river Koina, which feeds the villages downstream. It is also an essential water source for elephants during the summer. But as the river (and forest) dry and wither, the elephants are pushed into the neighbouring Chhattisgarh causing severe conflict and loss of life and livelihood. This is only going to worsen as we ravage and fragment the forests further.

During monsoon, excess run-off water from mining lease area goes to the Koina , which carries eroded fine particles from active mining area, overburden dumps, kutcha roads, and unbroken natural forest area within the leasehold where no mining activities are located. It is during this monsoon season that the management of excess wash-off becomes paramount importance for maintaining the quality of the water in natural sources (Koina river), which acts as a source of drinking water for people residing downstream.



Allotment of forest land

Many new villages have emerged in the forest area nearby mines due to employment in mines. Trees near to nala and river are cut down for growing crops and making the hutments. The Jan– Kalyan Department of State Government has given around 1000 acres of forest land of Saranda to most of the villages of Bodta, Karampada, Noagaon, Bhangaon, Kalaita, and Mirchigada.

Pollution by diesel generator

Private and public sector companies are polluting and chocking the Saranda forest, one of the biggest Sal forests in the country, by using diesel generators to mine iron ore. According to a rough estimate, officials in one of the mining companies said that more than 7,000–8,000 litres of diesel are burnt every day to generate power to run mines in Saranda forest.

The Sal trees in Saranda are being cut by local residents of nearby mines’ township for fire wood. Sagwan, Bijja, and Gamahar are costly trees and very useful for making furniture. These costly trees are being cut by Jungle Mafia in night, which has a girth of more than 40cm. It is overlooked by forest staff, as in the beginning the problem was confined to fuel wood, but later it took a worse shape as smuggling of poles, timbers, sleepers started not only in passenger trains but even in goods trains. The ingenious ways of hiding timber in the toilets, sides, undersides of railway carriage, even concealing inside the loaded wagon were devised by the smugglers for its shipment to industrial township of Rourkela and Tatanagar.

Naxals have started violence again in the Saranda forest areas in West Singhbhum district to stall the development activities in the forest. Many development services, such as roads, employment, housing, and enhancement of productive activities started by Central and State Government in the rural area of Saranda are hindered by this Naxal violence. The contractors and labourers engaged in the construction work are tortured, harassed, and killed by the Naxals at Saranda forest.

Saranda development plan (SDP) of Government of India is meant for developing the Maoist stricken villages in the Saranda forest. Many training camps of Maoists are said to be located here. There are around 7000 tribal households with a population of 36,500 in 56 villages. The main elements of the SDP are as follows;

• Building houses for 6,000 households under the Indira Aawas Yojana which has already been sanctioned in December 2011.


• Appointment of 56 Rozgar Mitras from local tribal youth for MGNREGA works for which over 6,000 job cards have already been issued and approximately Rs 60 lakh have been disbursed as wages.


• Around 11 roads and one bridge are planned to be constructed under the PMGSY for improving the connectivity among all habitations, of which two roads are nearing completion.


• Implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 under which 2,122 claims have been received and 176 titles have already been distributed.


• Distribution of 7,000 solar lanterns, 7,000 transistors, and 7,000 bicycles by SAIL, which got completed in the end of July 2012.


• Launch of five mobile health units, again as part of SAIL’s corporate social responsibility programme, of which three are in operation and two more will start by the end of July 2012.


• Start of six watershed development projects covering an area of around 36,000 hectares, which were sanctioned in February 2012.


• Improving access to drinking water supply for which 128 hand pumps have already been installed.

Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) will add two million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to its existing capacity in the financial year 2013-14 and pledged to spend Rs 5,000 crore to protect the environment in the mining areas. CS Verma, Chairman SAIL, said that the expansion and modernization work at the company’s plants in Rourkela (Odisha), Bokaro, and Bhilai are going on at war footing. “We are going to add two MTPA to the existing production capacity in 2013–14,” said Sri Verma at MTI Ranchi.

Saranda forest is a gift of nature and it should be protected and conserved by taking of following steps;

1. Indiscriminate deforestation should be prohibited and wastage of timber and fuel wood to be avoided.


2. Alternative sources of energy, such as biogas should be used to supplement fuel wood.


3. Forest fires should be prevented and large afforestation should be done in areas unfit for agriculture.


4. Pests and diseases of the forest trees should be controlled chemically and biologically.


5. Grazing of cattle in forests should be discouraged.


6. Indiscriminate cutting of trees should be prohibited.


7. Afforestation of the deforested areas should be undertaken.

The environmental impact of mining includes degradation of land, erosion of exposed hillsides, mine waste dumps, tailing dams, and resultant siltation of drainage system, creeks and rivers, which can significantly impact the surrounding areas. Mining may cause destruction and disturbance of ecosystems and habitats, and in the areas where farming is done, it may disturb or destroy productive grazing croplands. There has been a strong case to notify Saranda as a protected area, but it never gained currency given the mineral interests. Iron mining is a big threat to ecologically sensitive areas. Surface mining changes an area’s hydrological profile, thereby transforming the quality of soil, vegetation, and even rocks. Rampant falling breaks the tree canopies, hence disturbing the age-old habitats of birds and animals. Now the forest is left with only a few animals, thus leading to ecological imbalance.

The author is thankful to Sri AK Chowdhary, Range Officer, Sasangda Range, Saranda Forest Division for preparation of this paper. Thanks to Sri Ramesh Sinha, Jr Mgr (RTC), Kiriburu Iron Ore Mine, SAIL/RMD who inspired us to do this study. The author also acknowledges the support and facilities provided by Sri AT Jena, Assistant Manager (Survey), Kiriburu Iron Ore Mine, SAIL/ RMD during the course of study.