The products of the extractive industries both metals and minerals are of pivotal importance to country's economic development. Ecological sustainability is one of the principal measures against which economic gains from mining of minerals and their subsequent utilisation need to be assessed. Codification and evaluation of the environmental impacts of mineral extraction projects which is a mandatory requirement of the MoE&F, Government of India places greater responsibilities on project authorities for ecological assessment of mining projects. Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC) Ltd. proposes to augment lignite production in Gujarat by opening 3 mines in Lakhpat Taluka of Kutch.

This report is an outcome of the ecological assessment of proposed lignite mining project in Kutch with special emphasis on the evaluation of impacts on the Indian Grey Wolf and its habitat undertaken by WII under the consultancy offer of GMDC.

The evaluation of impacts of the proposed mining projects in Kutch command major significance since Kutch is a major stronghold for continued survival of the wolf in India. An effort has been made to outline specific threats to the conservation of Indian Grey Wolf and its habitat in Kutch.

Ameliorative measures have been suggested to safeguard the conservation value of these habitats wherever possible.

Dehradun

16th June, 1997

S.K. Mukherjee

Director