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People affected by illegal mining in Bellary, Chitradurga and Tumkur should be involved in reclamation and rehabilitation of forest land.
According to the founder president of the National Committee for Protection of Natural Resources (NCPNR), Mr S.R. Hiremath, “Large tracks of land has been damaged by indiscriminate mining in these three districts and there is urgency for eco-restoration of the over 1,000 hectares of forest land encroached by the miners.”
“Already the former secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Mr R. Rajamani, and noted ecologist, Mr Sagar Dhara, have suggested to the Government that Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) should be based on the experience of the affected people,” he added.
NCPNR and Samaj Parivartana Samudaya (SPS) had filed writ petitions in Supreme Court against illegal mining in Karnataka.
People-centric approach
He also said NCPNR and SPS would urge the Indian Council for Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) and the Karnataka Government to adapt people-centric approach for the EIA and for reclamation and rehabilitation plans.
Even through there is enough evidence to prove the involvement of the former chief ministers, Mr B.S.Yeddyurappa, and Mr H.D. Kumaraswamy, Mr Hiremath alleged that the State Government was employing ‘delay tactics' in acting against the Lokayukta report.
There is an urgent need to take action on people's representatives including Reddy brothers (Gali Janardhana Reddy and Gali Karunakar Reddy), former minister, Mr B Sriramulu, Rajya Sabha member, Mr Anil Lad, and some MLAs from Bellary district, including, Mr Anand Singh, who have been indicted by the Lokayukta.
Mr Hiremath said the Chief Minister, Mr D.V. Sadananda Gowda, and the Chief Secretary of the State were dilly-dallying on taking a firm and decisive action against over 700 officials who had been named in the U.V.Singh Report, the basis for the Lokayukta Report.
“We will soon be meeting the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary on the issue and if nothing happens we will approach the apex court,” he said.
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