‘We’ll be buried alive’: Mining turns homes in Rajasthan’s villages into death traps

“Houses have developed cracks because of mining. School buildings are damaged. We will certainly be buried alive under these unsafe houses. It’s safer to live under a tent,” Netram, a sarpanch representative at Ajeetpura village in Kotputli-Behror district of Rajasthan, said while protesting at a dharna against National Limestone Company Private Limited.

Netram’s concerns are shared across five villages within a 15-km radius. Hundreds of houses have become unsafe due to mining. Apprehensive that their cracked houses could collapse due to tremors from mining blasts, many villagers have stopped sleeping inside.

As part of its investigative series ‘The Aravalli Mess’, Newslaundry visited Pawana Ahir, Ajeetpura, Kansli, Kayampura and Jodhpura – villages that have been protesting against mining activities for a long time. Residents of Jodhpura have been on a dharna for more than three years; Kayampura for around 1.5 years; and Ajeetpura for more than 6 months.

At Pawan Ahir, a government school and a girls’ hostel operate in proximity to four mines. Students have stopped playing outside due to the fear of rocks flying in from the mines. They also claimed that their education has been affected due to constant noise from the mines. Teachers said the school building has developed cracks, too. The school has also written a letter to the higher authorities regarding the closure of the mines. But to no avail.

In Jodhpura, villagers have been on an indefinite dharna for more than 3 years against UltraTech Cement of the Aditya Birla Group. One of UltraTech's crusher units is situated just 200 metres from a school in the village. The crusher unit, villagers told me, emits dust, causing air pollution. Villagers have hung large curtains to keep dust out of their houses. A government report shows that pollution in the village during winter could be three times higher than the safe limit.

In November last year, the National Green Tribunal asked UltraTech to pay Rs 20,000 each to 298 people for health and environmental damage. It also asked UltraTech to pay Rs 50,000 to the owners of houses damaged by mining. Kayampura villagers also approached the National Green Tribunal, alleging that the mine is located close to the residential area and poses a health hazard. Despite the NGT order, the villagers are not calling off their dharna until they are rehabilitated and receive compensation.

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