Mining picks up as ban closes in

CHITRADURGA: In view of the CEC recommendation to the Supreme Court to ban extraction and transportation of iron ore from Chitradurga and Tumkur districts, transportation of ore in the district has gone up.According to sources in the Department of Mines and Geology, about 400 trucks were moving out daily from the mines belonging to Sesa Goa at the Megalahalli village.“Rehabilitation for mining areas in the district is a big failure as steps have not been taken to plant trees or prevent pollution,” said Appiko movement leader Panduranga Hegde on Monday.He told press persons that companies, government, environmentalists and public are equally responsible for rampant destruction of forests in the region, hence steps should be taken immediately to increase the vegetation in these areas as per the plan submitted to Indian Bureau of Mines.Underlining the importance of preserving natural resources, Hegde said: “Loss of vegetation, erosion of soil and silting of tanks in the areas of mining is a common occurrence. If this continues, there might be irreparable loss to the environment in the future.”Shocked over rampant mining in the district, Hegde remarked that he and his team had visited the mining spots in the district will submit a report over the impact of mining on environment to the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) and state government.”He hinted at waging a legal war on the degradation of environment due to mining.Stating that the Sahyadri Utsav will be held at Murugha mutt on September 8, Hegde said a workshop on public awareness to protect environment would be held.