The diamond mining project envisaged in the Buxwaha forest in Chhatarpur district was stopped by the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s chief bench in Jabalpur on Tuesday. However, HC Chief Justice RV Malimath and Vijay Shukla stated during the hearing that stone-age rock drawings, Kalchuri and Chandel period monuments, and other historic buildings could not be demolished.
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The HC bench issued a stay order, making it clear that any mining activities in the region will only occur following the court’s decision. The hearing was held in response to a petition filed by Nagrik Upbhokta Manch, a non-profit organization located in Jabalpur, seeking a stop to the mining activities. They also cited a study from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which said the forest included stone-age rock art and other ancient constructions.
The petitioners’ lawyer, Advocate Surendra Verma, informed the court that ASI had assessed the Buxwaha forest and filed a report to the court in July, based on which his clients had requested a halt on mining operations. According to the ASI research, rock drawings discovered in the Buxwaha forest are as ancient as 25,000 years and might be lost if mining operations are carried out in the region. In addition, the ASI has also discovered sculptures and pillars from the Kalchuri and Chandel eras in the area.
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During the hearing on Tuesday, the HC ordered the ASI, the state, and the federal governments to provide their responses to the problem. A contract for diamond mining on 364 hectares of forest property in the area was offered to a private mining firm, drawing national and international criticism. Around 8,000 residents’ livelihoods are also in jeopardy since they rely entirely on the rainforests. In addition, the project, which is also predicted to deplete groundwater sources in the dry region, has been accused of violating several environmental regulations by wildlife campaigners.