Centre rejects mining project near Kedarnath wildlife sanctuary in Uttarakhand's Chamoli

The wildlife board of the Union Environment Ministry has rejected the Uttarakhand Government’s proposal to start soapstone mining in proximity to the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary in Chamoli district.

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The mining project was proposed to be 2.1 km away from the sanctuary on agricultural land. The Uttarakhand Government has not fixed the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around the forest. According to the ministry’s guidelines, if the state government doesn't fix the zone, a default 10 km around the national park is considered an ESZ.

The Supreme Court on February 27, 2024, directed that mining activities should be prohibited in areas notified as eco-sensitive zones. The proposal was recommended by the state government in February 2024. However, a clearance from the Union environment ministry is required to operationalise mining in the ESZ.

“Officials from the Uttarakhand's Mining Department were present during the meeting. An ESZ has not been notified by the state government.... after discussions, the standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife decided to reject the project proposal,” an official from the ministry told The Tribune.

Spread in 326 sq km, Kedarnath wildlife sanctuary is the largest protected area in the western Himalayas. It is famous for alpine musk deer, Himalayan tahr, Himalayan griffon, Himalayan black bear and snow leopard.

According to the Indian Bureau of Mines, Uttarakhand boasts of 25 per cent soapstone reserve in India. Soapstone is composed primarily of talc with varying amounts of other minerals like chlorite, dolomite, and magnesite. Its smooth, soapy texture and heat-resistant properties make it a versatile material used for making sculptures, sinks, handicrafts and tiles.

However, the mining of soapstone destabilises the slopes of hilly terrain leading to the sinking of land. Land subsidence has affected around 65 per cent of the houses in the pilgrimage town of Joshimath in Uttarakhand, according to a report by government agencies. The Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, which conducted a satellite-based deformation analysis of Joshimath, found that one of main reasons for land subsidence could be slope instability.