Karnataka Minister Eshwar Khandre Stops Mining in Devadari Forest

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 23: Karnataka Minister of Environment, Ecology, and Forests, Eshwar B Khandre, has directed officials not to hand over the Devadari forest area of Sandur in Ballari to Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL). This decision comes after Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy gave his consent to start mining in the Devadari forest area.

Minister Eshwar Khandre stated, “99,330 trees will be cut down and destroyed due to mining here if permission is given. If the dense forest is destroyed, the problem of soil erosion and flooding will arise.” Thousands of trees, including Sandalwood, Teak, Bamboo, and Mango, will be affected. Social activists have raised strong objections to the mining permit.

Records from the forest department confirm that more than 99,000 trees would need to be felled for mining. There is widespread opposition from the entire state, including Bellary, against Union Minister Kumaraswamy for allowing the mining operations. The mining company has previously been in trouble for violating forest rules.

Given these concerns, Eshwar Khandre has instructed not to sign the Aranya Tiruvalli contract at present. Earlier, on March 28, 2016, it was decided not to allow new mining leases in forest areas. The mining site is only 19 kilometers away from the Daroji Bear Sanctuary. A campaign against mining called “Save Sanduru Forest” has started on social media, and the opposition is growing.

As per the government decision, KIOCL will mine a total area of 470.408 hectares in the Swamimalai Block of Sandur forest.