In Manipur, local communities and activists have been raising concerns over the signing of mining agreements in tribal villages without proper consultations.
The state government signed 39 MoUs with private companies to explore mineral resources like chromite, limestone, nickel, copper, malachite, azurite, magnetite, and various platinum groups of elements (PGE) between 2017 and 2018. Currently, carious mining companies are involved in mining surveys and operation plans to extract various minerals in Manipur, primarily chromite and limestone in Ukhrul, Kamjong, Tengnoupal and Chandel districts that borders Myanmar.
The Indigenous Perspectives and Movement for the Sustainable Development of Manipur (IPMSDL) documented that the agreements were made without free, prior, and informed consent, violating international standards like the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
For instance, in Mailiang village, inhabited by the Tangkhul tribe, the Department of Industries and Commerce set up a store, a workers’ camp with basic machinery to commence limestone mining in an area but the villagers do not have basic information on the mining activity such as Detailed Project Report, Environment Impact Assessments.
Several proposed mining zones overlap with lands inhabited by indigenous communities, who depend on these areas for their livelihoods and cultural practices. The MoUs have triggered fear of forced displacement and loss of ancestral land rights.
Local communities and organizations, such as the Committee on Protection of Natural Resources in Manipur (CPNRM), have demanded the cancellation of MoUs signed for mining activities without the free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples of the state.
Civil society organizations also expressed deep concerns regarding the lack of public consultations and environmental impact assessments (EIAs) before signing the MoUs. Media reports further highlighted that the mining-affected communities were not informed about the potential consequences of these actions.
While these protests have temporarily halted some mining activities, the government is yet to officially cancel the agreements. Activists continue to demand a dialogue to address community concerns.
Meanwhile, critics accused the government of exploiting ethnic violence to push these contracts, particularly for platinum mining, amid rising tensions between Meitei and Kuki communities. In August 2023, the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) president Prakash Ambedkar stated that the unrest is being used as a pretext to push mining contracts to private industrialists close to the government. He alleged that significant platinum reserves were uncovered in areas inhabited by the Kuki tribal communities and that the ruling BJP government was using the unrest in Manipur to grant mining rights to Gautam Adani.
In addition, there are growing worries about the impact of extractive industries and related projects, which have increased militarisation and targeted indigenous leaders under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, of 1958 (AFSPA). Calls for the repeal of AFSPA and demilitarisation of Manipur have been emphasised.
Activists also warned that mining activities would result in deforestation, soil erosion, water contamination, and biodiversity loss. Jiten Yumnam, a prominent environmentalist, argued that mining operations threaten the fragile ecosystems of Manipur's hill areas.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Complaint against procedural violations
Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources
Demand for better access to common land/resources
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
1. To seek Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) of the affected community people. 2. Complete process for identification and settlement of rights under FRA 3. Demand to make records of all consultation and meetings available on a public domain to prove that all formalities have been carried out
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Common
Forest and Non-Forest
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Government or community-regulated urban commons, Religious/Sacred/Cultural value, Other environmental services
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
Type of investment:
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Controversial land acquisition by the government
Lack of legal protection over land rights
Forced evictions/dispossession of land
Scheduled Tribe status or lack of status
Violation of free prior informed consent
Non-consultation with stakeholders
Violation of fundamental rights
Violation of environmental laws
Violation of standard international laws
Legal Status:
Out of Court
Status of Case In Court
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
No
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Displacement
Other harassment
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Yes
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Government of Manipur State, Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), DTCI, Manipur, Geological Survey of India (GSI), Department of Industries and Commerce (DIC), Manipur; Ministry of Mines and Minerals, Government of India
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
M/s Sarvesh Refractories Pvt. Ltd, Rourkela, M/s Rourkela Minerals Pvt. Ltd, Rourkela, M/s Kotak Resources, Mumbai, M/s Gulf Natural Resources, Gurgaon, M/s Visa Steel Ltd, Odisha, M/s Manipur Mines and Minerals Pvt. Ltd., M/s Balassore Alloys Ltd, Odisha, M/s Super Ores, Guwahati, M/s Gulf Natural Resources, Gurgaon, and M/s Ramung Enterprises, Imphal, Anand Exports Ltd, Odhisa , Visa Steel Ltd, Odhisa, Balasore Alloys Ltd, Odhisa, Ramung Enterprises, Imphal, and Sukhdev Mining & Industries Private Limited, Madhya Pradesh, Projects funded by World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency,
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Kuki and Naga Communities
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
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