MEETING HELD ON 18th-19th JUNE 2012 IN SCOPE COMPLE

425.0 Interface with Gram Panchyat members, Patwari, SDM and ProjectProponentThe subgroup, after visiting the Nadis, interacted with villagers, Gram Panchyatmembers, Patwari and SDM of the area and project proponent at villagePanchyat Building. After brief introduction by SDM of the area, the Director,MoEF explained about the project. The members of Panchyat of Nimbri wereunanimous by expressing that they would under no circumstances give theirlands that contain trees and the Nadis which were an integral part of theirlivelihoods. The project proponent also tried to convince Panchyat members thatmany benefits would be provided to them under CSR, but they did not yield to thepromises made by the project proponent. They also raised the pathetic andpitiable conditions of villagers who had already surrendered their lands to thepresent project proponent as well as to Ambuja Cement Ltd. in the neighboringarea. In fact they submitted a memorandum to the Director, MoEF (Annexure I).6.0 ConclusionsBased on the observations made on the landscape of the ML area and the’Nadis’ (wetlands/waterbodies) and the analysis of mining details given by theproject proponent, the maps provided by SAC and the report submitted by Dr V.B. Mathur of Wildlife Institute of India, a member of EAC (T&C), the followingconclusions are drawn:6.1 The ‘Nadis’ (wetlands/waterbodies) are unique landforms that support life inarid/desert area of Nagaur. These low lying depressions receive surface drainfrom vast flat landscapes and hold water for short/long periods depending on thecatchment size. The local communities, over a period of time, deepened thebasin of these Nadis and erected crescent shaped embankments on side wherethere were no surface drainage channels. These ‘Nadis’ not only rechargeground water and provide adequate water for irrigation, drinking, bathing andwashing but also serve as water source for livestock and wildlife. Above all, theseNadis and the surrounding grazing lands form habitat for birds and wildlife suchas Chinkara. In short there will be no life in the absence of Nadis which are lifesupporting systems. Butati Nadi has a highly religious and cultural significance.6.2 More than 83% of ML area is flat agricultural land that support three crops peryear with the help of tube well irrigation. Further, these agricultural fields harbour100’s of trees of Prosopis cineraria – the tree of life in desert and Acacia – thatprovide fodder and fire wood and substantial number of Neem trees whichprovide fire wood as well.6.3 The Gram Panchyat members of Nimbri have refused outright to part their landsfor the project and also emphasized that the Nadis and grazing lands are anintegral part of their livelihoods and would not be allowed to be disturbed underany circumstances.