In a scathing indictment on the environmental devastation that has been caused by the illegal mining in Karnataka, the Lokayukta report highlights that mining in Bellary, Hospet and Sandur, which had been given 1,000 mining leases, have seen massive destruction of some of the richest no-go forests in India. Most of the mining in these districts was illegal and in complete violation of the Forest Conservation Act and the
Environment Protection Act. Large-scale quarrying in the adjoining districts of Chitradurga, Tumkur and Raichur has destroyed these water-rich, thickly forested areas.
Leo Saldanah of the Bengaluru-based Environment Support Group, who has been following the criminal lack of accountability of most mining groups, said, “The Lokayukta report indicts 700 forest officers by name for deliberately turning a blind eye to these operations. They were obviously willing to collude with the Reddy brothers and other corporate houses to allow large-scale loot of the exchequer.”
The report further states that while the Karnataka forest department did register 56 cases of forest offence against illegal mining, the lease holders retaliated by filing cases in the Karnataka high court against the department.
While 98 of the 148 mines in Bellary are located on prime forest land, 100 of these mining companies were found to be violating forest laws. The Lokayukta has already registered cases against more than 55 companies.
The Indian Bureau of Mines had calculated that the total iron ore mineral reserves are about 1,148 million tonnes. At the present rate of mining, mineral reserves of the state will be exhausted in the next 20 years. But with the state government having given the green signal to set up seven mega steel plants with a production capacity of seven million tonnes each, experts believe the resources will dry up much earlier.
The Directorate of Mines and Geology has calculated that the total iron ore mineral reserves estimated that the quantity of iron ore purchased (and reported by unregistered dealers) has been calculated to be about 84 lakh metric tonnes.
The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute had carried a study to show that 10 million tonnes of iron ore extraction was ecologically sustainable in these mines. However, experts point out that while the official figures state 45 million tonnes of quarrying per year, the actual amount is much higher.
With mining being banned, ecologists hope these thickly forested areas are allowed to return to its pristine glory.