Whose development are we talking about?

This is my view for the topic "Mining is necessary for development. People owning such mining rich lands should be relocated" which appeared in the "Point-counterpoint" section of Science reporter.

Mining is important for development- but whose development? Do the people who are relocated develop? No. Does the environment develop? No. Both are ruined. The only development comes in urban areas located hundreds of miles away; and in the bank accounts of corporate tycoons. History has shown, and we are still seeing that the people who are in the immediate vicinity of mining activities have never developed due to those, and neither have the mining rich states of India.
Another point to be noted is that who are the ones eligible to be relocated. Why only the tribals in the hills? One of India's largest oilfields is directly under the city of Ahmedabad, would we even consider relocating the entire city of Ahmedabad? No, never. Talking about relocation- people give up their farmlands for liquid cash or employment in the mine, but after a few years, the mine is exhausted and the land does not remain fit for cultivation either. What do these people do now? Do we expect the State or the Corporate to take care of these people? Remember, a nation is developed only if it can provide a decent lifestyle to it's citizens, not if it can build malls, flyovers and airport terminals in swanky cities while a majority of it's population have to breathe fly- ash.

Other views can be read here http://www.niscair.res.in/jinfo/sr/2011/SR%2048%283%29%20%28Point%20CounterPoint%29.pdf

Feel free to post your views on this in the comments :-)