Two NGOs today claimed that the proposed move to award a contract for diamond mining at Bunder in Bundelkhand region would lead to large-scale destruction of the environment and affect the local tribal population.
International mining major Rio Tinto has applied for clearances to dig for diamonds in the area.
"The decision of the Centre and the state government may provide employment to over 400 persons, but that would be at the cost of nearly 5,000 tribals who will lose their right to livelihood because of the project.
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"(The project) will cause irreparable damage to the environment," NGO Pahal's H Dwivedi and Adivasi, Vanvasi Evam Dalit Mahasangh's in-charge for Bundelkhand and Mahakoushal, Harikishan, said here.
The proposed site for the mine is in an area which is densely forested, has rich wildlife of, among others, leopards, deer, bears, spotted-deer and monkeys, they said.
For the sake of the company (which is headquartered in the UK), the government had also compromised the buffer zone of Panna Tiger Reserve, they alleged.
People of the Baskwaha area are opposed to the proposed project and on February 9 had organised a 'Mahapanchayat' on the issue, they said.
A public hearing would be held at Kasera while a hunger strike and protest march are also to be organised to express opposition to the project.
