Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], Karnataka Environment, Ecology and Forest Minister, Ishwar B Khandre has directed the officials not to hand over the Deodari forest area of Sandur in Ballari to Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL).
This comes after Union Heavy Industries and Steel Minister HD Kumaraswamy gave consent to the company to start mining in the Deodari forest area.
Minister Ishwar Khandre said, "If permission is granted, 99,330 trees will be cut and destroyed due to mining here. If the dense forests are destroyed then problems of soil erosion and floods will arise."
Thousands of trees including sandalwood, teak, bamboo, Dindala, Honne, Rakta Bhutala, Lutiwala, Bilwa, Kallu, Mango, Arli and Kadubanni will be scorched. In such a situation, social workers have expressed strong objection to the concerned people on granting permission for mining.
Forest department records also show that more than 99,000 trees will have to be cut in stages for mining. Thus, widespread protests are taking place across the state including Bellary against Union Minister Kumaraswamy for allowing mining operations.
The mining company has also been accused of many lapses. The company was in trouble earlier also for violating forest rules. In view of all this, Ishwar Khandre has instructed not to sign the Aranya Thiruvalli contract at present.
Earlier, on March 28, 2016, under the chairmanship of the Principal Conservator of Forests of the Forest Department, a decision was taken not to allow new mining leases in forest areas. The mining site is only 19 kilometers away from Daroji Bear Sanctuary.
A campaign against mining named "Save Sanduru Forest" has started on social media and the voice against mining is slowly spreading.
As per the government decision, KIOCL will mine a total area of 470.408 hectares in Swamimalai block of Sandur forest.
This comes after Union Heavy Industries and Steel Minister HD Kumaraswamy gave consent to the company to start mining in the Deodari forest area.
Minister Ishwar Khandre said, "If permission is granted, 99,330 trees will be cut and destroyed due to mining here. If the dense forests are destroyed then problems of soil erosion and floods will arise."
Thousands of trees including sandalwood, teak, bamboo, Dindala, Honne, Rakta Bhutala, Lutiwala, Bilwa, Kallu, Mango, Arli and Kadubanni will be scorched. In such a situation, social workers have expressed strong objection to the concerned people on granting permission for mining.
Forest department records also show that more than 99,000 trees will have to be cut in stages for mining. Thus, widespread protests are taking place across the state including Bellary against Union Minister Kumaraswamy for allowing mining operations.
The mining company has also been accused of many lapses. The company was in trouble earlier also for violating forest rules. In view of all this, Ishwar Khandre has instructed not to sign the Aranya Thiruvalli contract at present.
Earlier, on March 28, 2016, under the chairmanship of the Principal Conservator of Forests of the Forest Department, a decision was taken not to allow new mining leases in forest areas. The mining site is only 19 kilometers away from Daroji Bear Sanctuary.
A campaign against mining named "Save Sanduru Forest" has started on social media and the voice against mining is slowly spreading.
As per the government decision, KIOCL will mine a total area of 470.408 hectares in Swamimalai block of Sandur forest.
