(Image courtesy of Rio Tinto)
This is a huge win for the environment and local wildlife in India as Rio Tinto walks away from India Bunder diamond project.
After more than a decade of regulatory hurdles, local opposition and a recent dip in diamond prices, mining giant Rio Tinto has decided to mothball its massive Bunder diamond project in India by the end of the year. Rio Tinto’s proposed Bunder diamond mining project is located in Chhatarpur forests in Central India’s Madhya Pradesh (M.P.) state and would be spread over 971.595 hectares of protected forest area and come very close to the Panna Tiger Reserve and Navardehi Wildlife Sanctuary.
Just one reason The Greener Diamond is happy to see Rio Tinto say farewell to the India Bunder diamond project….
The magnificent and majestic but endangered species – Tigers (Panthera tigris) had a significant improvement in their population in last 10 years in India. After dwindling to a low of 1,411 in 2006, latest tiger census of 2014 estimates tiger population in India to be around 2,226, thanks to the massive efforts taken by governmental agencies, wildlife conservationists, biologists, NGOs, activists, and enthusiasts. However, all this stupendous work may have gone down the drain if Rio Tinto’s plan to start diamond mining in India’s Bunder region materialized.
CLICK HERE to learn more about this project and why Rio Tinto has decided to walk way.
CLICK HERE to learn more about how the India Bunder diamond project could have destroyed the home of 26 tigers.
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