Lithium discovery spotlights a quaint Jammu village; people fear double displacement

Ramchand remembers that one afternoon, the narrow lanes of Salal, once familiar and comforting, were crowded with large vehicles and groups of officials.“These vehicles are everywhere now, and we feel like strangers in our own land.” On 9th February 2023, the government of India announced the discovery of lithium reserves in the region. This led to a media and bureaucratic juggernaut. Since early 2023, Ramchand, a 78-year-old farmer, has witnessed heavy footfall in his otherwise sleepy, quaint village.

The bustle which he witnesses are the entourages of vehicles with government officials, mining experts, policymakers, media, and curious locals from neighbouring villages. The bureaucracy and all the curiosity stem from lithium reserves discovery—a metal deemed to be the 21st century’s ‘new gold’. With the discovery, India joined the leagues of a handful of countries– Australia, China and South American nations– with lithium rock. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) found about 5.9 million metric tons of reserves. Though this number remains uncertain. The drilling continues. The tests continue. The uncertainty continues. 

Salal holds breath for lithium’s cost

In the village of Salal, you can often spot small groups of young men gathered on shop ledges, sitting at small roadside eateries, or in a local restaurant. Lately, they have been discussing the developments in the lithium project. Ramchand says, "With all the government officials and experts visiting, it's like a whole new world is being formed right before us." But for the villagers, including Ramchand, the influx is daunting and unsettling. India’s first discovery of lithium has both local and global significance. But how does it change the lives of the locals? In one possibility, if lithium exploration continues, Ramchand would be displaced from his home and land for the second time. 

Salal village lies about 15 kilometers from Reasi town—the district and sub-district headquarters—Jammu. Kulwant Raj, a 43-year-old social worker and resident of Salal, says, "Salal is just beside the Chenab River... people here mostly work in the army and agricultural work.” The town is situated at a high altitude Chenab flowing from all four sides—a geographical rarity that villagers find amusing.

The village is part of the Reasi, an underdeveloped district of Jammu and Kashmir. The medical and transport infrastructure are in need of a much-needed upgrade. Though the village is accustomed to big developmental projects. Recently the Central Government inaugurated the  Chenab Bridge which is from Salal village. The bridge sparked concerns among farmers. The concerns were centered around the loss of fertile agricultural land and the degradation of the environment, which directly threatened their livelihoods. 

Nandu Lal, a 69-year-old farmer, says, "Our village is in the spotlight now because we have the world’s highest railway bridge here. Before that, the water dam was built, and now, with the talk of lithium projects, it's a huge deal for us. This land, around 70 acres, has lithium deposits, and there are also other minerals here." The Salal Dam project in the 1980s displaced Ramchand and countless others. People from Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes reside here, mostly from Dogri, Gojri, and Pahari communities. 

Their stories, shaped by broken promises and lost land, reflect the ongoing struggles of rural communities in the face of large-scale development projects. Every time the crowd grows, the villagers wonder if they will ever get back to their normal, quaint lives.

Another local, Amit Kumar (24), speaks about his village with a deep sense of pride and nostalgia. He is getting married next year, and he believes that the connection between the Salal and their land is special. To him, Salal is not just a place; it is a way of life that is inseparable from its natural beauty and traditions. While gazing at the snow-capped mountains in the distance, he says, “The air here is fresh, untouched. Every time I step out of my home, I feel lucky to be surrounded by this beauty. The breeze carries the "scent of our fields and forests. It’s something you can’t find anywhere else.”

Displacement trauma revisited

In Salal village, around 90% of the population depends on farming and livestock for their livelihood. Locals said that they earn around ₹5,000 to ₹6,000 per month. The district office didn’t provide any information about the income of the people. They said, “"We are not allowed to share any details." 

Reasi is considered an underdeveloped district in the region. The basic facilities like hospitals are difficult to access. The burden of double displacement would be difficult for the community to overcome even after government compensation. 

Ramchand’s lives with his wife and two married sons and their families. He has lived a life full of experiences, and he still vividly remembers his life before his first displacement for the construction of the Salal Dam. "We were self-sufficient. My father farmed this land, and I followed in his footsteps. We had enough to live on—more than enough.” Now Ramchand’s land lies submerged under the dam's water. Salal Dam is India’s first hydropower project built by India in Jammu and Kashmir under the Indus Water Treaty regime. The electricity is supplied to U.P., Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, H.P., Chandigarh, and Rajasthan. 

“The electricity never reached us," Ramchand says with bitterness.  According to locals, the construction displaced nearly 50 families from the village of Salal who moved three kilometers away, to Dhayangarh. When we reached out to the district’s revenue department for more information, they said, "We are not allowed to share any details." The land is less fertile and harder to farm in the relocated area.

Kulwant Raj lives with his wife and three children. The government compensated him with 5000 per kanal for his 60 kanal [1 kanal = 0.125 acre] of land back in 1985. He explains, "50% of the agricultural land in Salal was used for rice cultivation back in 1985, and that land was taken for the dam.”

When Ground Report asked officials about the compensation and policies, officials from the Revenue Department of Reasi declined to provide any details. Though many villagers, including Ramchand, were forced to leave behind their homes, their farms, and their ancestral land in exchange for compensation that was, in reality, insufficient to rebuild their lives.

“After the Salal Dam, nothing ever improved for us. And now they are asking us to move again, with no guarantee of a better future." Several villagers share the same belief. A similar threat today. "We may be displaced twice... [but] no one has ever given us what we need.” Nandu Lal adds.

Promises made, but action still missing

Since 2018, the officials have arrived in the village with trucks carrying drilling machines and equipment almost every year. As villagers explain, they set up the machinery in various areas of the village, mostly in the agricultural land. They drill about 10 meters into the ground using water, then they collect rocks and stones for testing. Water tankers are brought in to supply water for the drilling. Nandu Lal says, “The drilling and rock collection disturb our daily lives, and we are worried about how this will affect our land and resources in the future." According to the data from the Ministry of Mines, the area under lithium is around 317.638 hectares.

Amit said, “I’ve seen my father and grandfather work in these fields, and now I feel it’s my responsibility to protect them.” Despite his love for the village, Amit is aware of the challenges Salal faces. “Development is important, but it’s coming at a cost,” he says, referring to the projects that have altered the landscape. “When I see machines digging up the fields where I used to play as a child, it hurts. These projects might bring progress, but they’re also taking away pieces of our identity.”

As per the Ministry of Mines, the Indian government opened bidding for lithium reserves in Jammu & Kashmir in November 2023, allowing private companies to participate. However, the auction failed due to insufficient bidders. The reserves were re-listed in a later tranche, with companies like JSW Group and Hindalco showing renewed interest in acquiring these critical mineral resources.

"The Supreme Court has ruled that before displacing people, there must be a proper rehabilitation policy. Affected individuals must be resettled with compensation, land, and plots before any project can proceed,  as outlined in the National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy, 2007" said Soumya Dutta, co-convener of South Asian People’s Action on Climate Crisis (SAPACC) and an environmental expert. Before any projects, the authorities are supposed to conduct environmental impact assessment, social impact assessment, and organised public hearing. But, there is no publicly available data.

The exploration process for lithium involves several stages, starting with reconnaissance surveys to determine if the mineral is present. This is followed by detailed geological, geochemical, and geophysical surveys to narrow down the area to smaller, more targeted zones. After that, trenching and pitting are conducted to expose the ore body, which helps provide a preliminary estimate of the resource.

Shafiq Ahmad Choudhary, former District Mineral Officer of Reasi, said, “Regarding displacement concerns, studies are still ongoing. Right now, the project is in the G3 stage, which means further evaluation is required before any concrete steps are taken. It will take time before reaching the next phase." He was transferred in August last year. 

Machines roar, villagers search for answers

On December 19th, 2023, drilling started on Nandu lal’s agricultural land. They bring a tanker with water for drilling. “They conduct their tests, but they never stop to talk to us or explain anything. We don’t know who they are or what they’re doing, shares Nadulal.”

"For the villagers of Salal, the loss of agricultural land was not just an economic blow—it was an emotional one. Farming was not just a way of life; it was part of their identity, their culture, and their heritage. “We don’t know if lithium is even here or not. That’s for the government to find out. But what about us? If lithium is found and they start mining, where will we go? We are not happy about this. We’ve been living here for 70 years, building our homes, raising our families, and caring for our land and animals. How can we just leave everything behind? Where will we go to build a new home? And what will happen to our animals, our belongings, and our children’s future? We don’t want to leave, but if we must, we don’t know how we’ll manage.”

According to various studies, lithium, while essential for making rechargeable batteries, is not the most challenging component to source. It is relatively abundant and could potentially be extracted from seawater in the future. However, this method would require significant amounts of energy, making it less practical for now.

As Ramchand takes us around, we have Chenab river flowing around the village. It is undoubtedly serene. The machines and entourages have gained their normalcy. Now, they are parts of the stories locals narrate to journalists and their relatives in other villages. Although Ramchand also observes, "The machines are louder now than the birds in the morning. What happens to our fields when all this is over?" This leads us to the question: what remains of a land when we’re done with human exploits? 

In the second part of this series, we focus on the villagers of Salal, where daily struggles with water scarcity are now compounded by the threat of lithium mining. For people living in Salal, progress means uncertainty—will they lose their land and livelihoods for a global energy shift?

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