IF it’s a coincidence, it’s a very very telling one. Guess one of the questions Union Minister of State for Environment Dilip Singh Judeo asked in the Rajya Sabha on December 18, 2002, a month before he became Minister: He requested information on ‘‘countries with whom we have entered into agreement for collaboration in mining works and the details of benefits to the country out of these agreements.’’ CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE EXCLUSIVE VIDEO The answer, coming from Ravi Shankar Prasad, who was then Coal and Mines Minister, was: ‘‘The Government has not entered into any agreement with any foreign country for collaboration in mining works.’’ The man on tape who is seen handing over the cash to Judeo says he’s shopping for mining rights for an Australian firm. Clearly, therefore, he needs all the help he can get. But if for a full 35 minutes, Judeo and his flunkey are seen bragging about how easily they can get it—before they accept the cash—they have reason to. For, if Judeo gets the ‘‘lease’’ done, it will be almost entirely because he pulled strings and less because of his actual powers in the Ministry. This is even more significant as the SC has been keeping an eye on the mining leases that have been granted in the past, in complete violation of environmental norms. In fact, in a landmark order, it even banned mining in the entire Aravalli belt after seeing evidence that it was causing serious damage to the water table of the states of Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan. As per the Court’s direction, the entire system for clearances of mines needs to be streamlined. Clearance for mining leases, as of now, entails an exhaustive process at the state and the Central level and involves Judeo’s Boss, Environment Minister T R Baalu. And Baalu hasn’t exactly been generous with Judeo. When Judeo took office in January this year—his first stint as Minister—he was given a mix of portfolios distanced from key policy-making and regulations: Wildlife, National Afforestation and Eco Development Board that is largely responsible for Afforestation schemes, some National Award committees and Environment Education. But the Environment Ministry does remain the most crucial ministry when it comes to mining. An estimated 80% of mines now fall under ‘‘Forest Land’’ that require mandatory clearance by the Ministry of Environment. Leases for smaller mines, below 40 hectares, are cleared at the state government level. Perhaps, this is why Judeo’s aide brags that if the BJP comes to power in Chhattisgarh, ‘‘there will be no problem.’’ It’s in the ‘‘major minerals’’ category and in forest land where the Centre—Judeo’s Ministry—comes in. For these, the Ministry of Environment has a Forest Advisory Committee chaired by the Director General of Forests. The clearance is a fairly lengthy process with close scrutiny of claims made by the state government on behalf of the the mining company. The file then directly moves to the Union Minister, in this case, Baalu. Judeo has little role to play. But both Baalu and he derive their power from three Acts — the Coastal Regulation Zone (for any construction activity within 500 metres of the coast), the Environment Protection Act (made for polluting industries) and the Forest Clearance Act (for any activity in forest land). Like most State Ministers, Judeo had been looking at the Ministry from his home state Chhattisgarh angle and sometimes even his home town Jashpur. He has forwarded proposals for a snake park and an elephant sanctuary in Jashpur, Chhattisgarh. According to sources in the Ministry, he has also given a list of possible forest violations to the Forest department to check and make out cases against the Ajit Jogi government. Otherwise, his stint in the Ministry is largely marked by long periods of absences. He set out for the famous Parivartan yatra two months back, never once returning to the Ministry. He claims to be a wildlife enthusiast and his resume says he is an ‘‘agriculturalist’’ by profession. He is member of the standing committee on coal.
