Ranchi ::For the past two years, discussions have been ongoing about the potential availability of lithium in Jharkhand’s Giridih and Koderma districts. However, the Central Government has yet to take any concrete steps. Institutions like the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) and the Geological Survey of India (GSI) have still not been able to determine whether the lithium content in the local Dhibra mineral is commercially viable.
This uncertainty is severely affecting more than five lakh (500,000) workers dependent on Dhibra mining. The unregulated and illegal nature of this mining not only exposes them to exploitation but also poses serious health hazards. Experts believe that unless Dhibra mining is legalized, there is little hope for any improvement in the social and economic condition of the region.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) [CPI (ML)] has strongly criticized the government’s inaction on this issue. The party’s state secretary, Manoj Bhakt, stated, “It is unfortunate that the Central Government remains silent on this issue, and the local MP and Union Minister Annapurna Devi has not taken any concrete steps. She hasn’t even raised the concerns of Dhibra-dependent workers in Parliament.”
Recently, a Union Minister had announced plans to allocate a lithium block in Koderma, but local organizations claim this was just a token statement. Similar lithium projects in Kashmir and other states have remained only on paper for years.CPI (ML) has also demanded that the Jharkhand Government establish a gridhi- Koderma Industrial Corporation to promote development in the mica-rich region. This, they argue, could offer alternative employment, legal protection, and improved living standards for those dependent on Dhibra mining.
Questions also remain over the Dhibra Policy 2023, which has been pending for over a year. It has yet to be implemented. Experts say that if the state government enforces this policy effectively, it could not only legalize mining activities but also strike a better balance between employment and environmental protection.
Now, all eyes are on both the Central and State Governments to see when they will act, and when the people of this region will receive their rightful opportunities and a dignified life.
إرسال تعليق