The proposed bauxite and marl mining project is located in Devbhumi Dwarka, Gujarat.
NEW DELHI: A proposed bauxite and marl mining project in Gujarat’s Devbhumi Dwarka district has received a key recommendation for environmental clearance.
The five-hectare project at the Mevasa Block lies approximately 1.6 kilometres from India’s first marine wildlife sanctuary and about six kilometres from the country’s first marine national park.
The Expert Appraisal Committee of the Union Environment Ministry recommended the clearance during its meeting on July 29, subject to specific conditions.
Location and Protected Areas
The mining site is situated on the southern shore of the Gulf of Kachchh. India’s first marine wildlife sanctuary, covering 458 square kilometres, was established in 1980. The adjoining marine national park, spanning 168 square kilometres, was notified two years later to protect marine flora and fauna.
According to Gujarat’s forest and environment department, the marine park’s shallow waters support a complex coral reef ecosystem and extensive mangroves.
The area hosts more than 49 species of hard corals, 23 species of soft corals, 70 species of sponges, 421 species of fish, 27 species of prawns, 30 species of crabs, 172 species of birds, six species of mangroves and three species of sea turtles.
The park also lies along major bird migration routes. During winter, large numbers of waders such as flamingos, sandpipers and plovers can be observed.
Project Details and Conditions
The project proponent is L and S Company. The Expert Appraisal Committee has stipulated that the company must follow up with the Gujarat Forest Department for approval of a wildlife conservation plan.
It has also directed the proponent to take appropriate interventions to minimise stress on wild animals and prevent man-animal conflict.
Environmental Impact Assessment Findings
The project’s Environment Impact Assessment report notes that the mining lease area is located 1.6 kilometres from the marine sanctuary and about six kilometres from the marine national park. It states that this distance “itself acts as a natural physical barrier” from the ecosystems.
The report further observes that while impacts on key habitat elements may occur on a local scale, they would not be critical for the life-cycle needs of the species observed or expected at the regional level.
The marine sanctuary and national park are described in the EIA as supporting interdependent relationships among various life forms, comparable to a large interconnected system.
Next Steps
The recommendation for environmental clearance is a significant step, but the project remains subject to fulfilment of the stipulated conditions, including approval of the wildlife conservation plan by the state forest department.
Final clearance will depend on compliance with these requirements and any further regulatory processes.
The development has drawn attention because of the proximity of the proposed mining activity to two of India’s earliest and most important marine protected areas, which play a critical role in conserving the unique biodiversity of the Gulf of Kachchh.
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