Ensure Environmental Balance'

`Ensure environmental balance'

by The Hindu, JAIPUR

13th March 2006

The sixth mines, environment and mineral protection week began in Udaipur on Sunday with a call to take effective measures for maintenance of environmental balance by causing minimum damage to atmosphere by the mining activities and planting a large number of trees.

The Indian Mines Bureau, Indian Soapstone Producers' Association and owners of mines are jointly observing the week in the City of Lakes.

Rajasthan Forest and Environment Minister Laxminarain Dave, inaugurating the week, said the conservation of environment would prevent disasters such as drought, earthquakes and tsunami.

Mr. Dave asked the owners of mines to compensate for the damage caused to environment by planting trees and look after their growth. He said the State Government was taking steps to resolve all the difficulties faced by owners of quarries.

Kiran Maheshwari, MP from Udaipur, said the mining industry should be developed with the emphasis on environment protection.

The Mines Controller of northern region of Indian Mines Bureau, V.K. Arora, said the exploitation of minerals should be undertaken in a systematic and scientific manner.

The president of Indian Soapstone Producers' Association, G.S. Soni, said those owning and operating quarries should not be treated as "enemies of environment''.

Prizes were distributed to the representatives of mines in various fields on the occasion, with the award for excellence going to the Jhamarkotda rock phosphate mine of the public sector Rajasthan State Mines and Minerals Limited.