Buxwaha forest of district Chhatarpur, MP, is estimated to have 34 million carats of diamond. There will be a massive mining project on over 364 hectares of forest land in the upcoming days.
It was won by Aditya Birla’s Group Essel Mining and Industries Limited. By beating Adani, Aditya Birla won the project at ₹55,000 Cr, out of which the MP govt will get a royalty of ₹23,000 Cr. If the project gets clearance, it will be the largest diamond mine in Asia. But there is a problem, around 2.15 lakh trees will have to sacrifice their life.
Buxwaha forest region has numerous species of flora and fauna. This forest is home to some rare species of animals like Indian Gazelles, Chowsingha, Sloth Bears, Leopard, Tiger, Monitor Lizards, Indian Rumped Vultures and Peacock. It also sustains trees with medicinal benefits like Teak, Ken, Behda, Banyan, Jamun Tendu, Khair, Bel, Dhava, Seja, Ghoat, Renjha, Amltas, Saugon, etc.
The two-time meals of the villagers are also dependant on the forest produce.
To meet the need for water requirement, the company will construct a dam over the regional nullah, which is the only lifeline for wildlife and people over there. The nullah also ensures the groundwater level of that region and contributes to the river Betwa. Along with the depletion of the nullah, there are chances that groundwater will also get depleted soon.
Buxwaha forest comes under the Bundelkhand region, which is already a drought-prone area. For diamond mining, a large quantity of water is needed, creating more stress on the water body.
Already existing projects like the Ken-Betwa river Interlinking Project and Bundelkhand Express highway took the lives of 23 lakh and 1.9 lakh trees, respectively. If this project emerges, Bundelkhand has to be ready for catastrophic climate crises like extreme drought, famine, earthquake, etc.
Panna wildlife sanctuary, known for the reservoir of tigers, will also be in danger because of this project.
Is diamond or money more important than 2,00,000 trees that supply oxygen to the whole of Bundelkhand and keeps people alive? Is the MP government this greedy and cold-hearted that it couldn’t see the environment before money? If lakhs of trees are cut down, if the ecosystem and biodiversity will be no more, how will our ecosystem not get affected?
If we love our lives, then we should know the fact that if trees are alive, we are too.
I don’t support Buxwah diamond mining because trees are the real diamonds for us. Are you with me?