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Relevance: GS-III (Environment) | GS-II (Social Justice) | Source: The Hindu
The Gecko and the Mine: A Fight for Survival in Odisha
The Context: Deep in the forests of Odisha, a tiny, colourful lizard that scientists thought went extinct 130 years ago was miraculously rediscovered. Now, a proposed open-cast bauxite mine threatens to wipe out this exceptionally rare creature forever, sparking a fierce resistance from local indigenous tribes who are fighting to save their ancestral lands.
1. The “Lazarus” Lizard
The Jeypore ground gecko is a biological marvel that split from its evolutionary cousins over 20 million years ago.
- Back from the Dead: First documented by the British in 1878, it was completely lost to science for 130 years. It was famously rediscovered in 2010, making it a “Lazarus species” (a species that seemingly comes back from the dead).
- Extremely Rare: It survives entirely in the high-elevation forests of the Eastern Ghats, hiding under boulders and leaves. In the past year, researchers have only managed to spot four of these geckos in the Balda hills.
2. Bauxite Mining and Tribal Resistance
The Eastern Ghats are rich in bauxite (the raw material for aluminium), putting wildlife and tribal communities in the crosshairs of heavy industry.
- A History of Destruction: The exact spot where this gecko was originally discovered in the 1870s has already been completely destroyed by previous mining projects. The new proposed mine in the Balda hills directly overlaps with the gecko’s absolute last known stronghold.
- The Adivasi Uprising: Local indigenous groups—specifically the Bondo and Porja tribes—claim the reserve forest as their ancestral land. Frustrated that the government is ignoring their forest rights applications, they have started physically blocking mining teams from flying surveillance drones over the hills.
Practice MCQ
Q. Consider the following statements regarding biodiversity conservation and tribal rights in India:
- A “Lazarus species” refers to a species that was presumed extinct for a prolonged period but is subsequently rediscovered in the wild.
- The landmark Niyamgiri judgment by the Supreme Court established that State Governments can bypass Gram Sabha consent for mining if the project is designated as nationally critical.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a) 1 only
Hint: Statement 1 is correct; the Jeypore ground gecko is a classic Lazarus species, rediscovered after 130 years. Statement 2 is incorrect because the Niyamgiri judgment firmly ruled that Gram Sabha consent is absolutely mandatory under the Forest Rights Act before any mining can occur in areas inhabited by vulnerable tribal groups.
Hint: Statement 1 is correct; the Jeypore ground gecko is a classic Lazarus species, rediscovered after 130 years. Statement 2 is incorrect because the Niyamgiri judgment firmly ruled that Gram Sabha consent is absolutely mandatory under the Forest Rights Act before any mining can occur in areas inhabited by vulnerable tribal groups.
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