The regional office of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Bengaluru, has rejected a proposal for diversion of 48.2 ha of forestland for a mining project in Tumakuru district.
This follows a site inspection on September 23 and 25, by S. Senthil Kumar, Deputy Director-General of Forests, Central Regional Office, Bengaluru.
In reserve forest
The inspection pertained to a proposal seeking clearance for the Sarangapani Iron and Manganese Ore Mine Project. The mining project is in Thirtharamapura Reserve Forest and is spread across Gollarahalli, Hosahalli, Kodihalli, Tonalapura, and Lakmenahalli villages in Chikkanayakanahalli taluk of Tumakuru district.
The inspection report noted ambiguities in the legal status of the forest land, invalid environmental clearances, and absence of a clearance from the National Board for Wildlife. The rejection also stems from the fact that commercial mining is a prohibited activity within the deemed Eco-Sensitive Zone of Bukkapatna WLS.
