Date:09/05/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/05/09/stories/2003050902810400.htm

Southern States - Karnataka

HC stays GO on mining, quarrying

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE MAY 8. A vacation Bench of the Karnataka High Court on Thursday ordered a stay on the controversial government orders allowing mining and quarrying in 251 acres of forest area in different parts of the State and ordered issuance of notice to the Government. The Bench, comprising Justice A.M.Farooq and Justice M.Bhaktavatsala, passed the interim order on a public interest writ petition filed by a Bangalore-based advocate, C.Suresh. The petitioner has challenged the March 22 and April 11 notifications issued by the Government enabling quarrying and mining in forest land. The March 22 notification amended certain provisions of the Karnataka Mines and Minerals Licence Rules, 1994. The amendment allowed granting of quarrying lease in any forest land by the State Government with the Centre's prior approval under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. The April 11 notification identified several forest areas and brought them to the notice of miners. A majority of these mines were in Chamarajanagar District. The forest areas included Ontigudda in Hospet taluk, Kallamballi, Gumballi, Yaragamballi, Punajanur, Mettakallu, Gopinnatham Beat, Ikkatakallu Halla at M.M.Hills, Mannikana Palyam, M.Malai Reserve Forest of Vadagal Betta, K.Hosur Beat, Hanur Reserve Forest, Palar Beat, Appukan Path Betta, and Jalli Palya, all in Chamarajanagar District, Siddanakalla and Maradi in Hunagund, Hosadurga in Kanakapura taluk, and Sooleri in Channapatna taluk. The petitioner contended that the State Government had no power to alienate forest land for mining and quarrying purposes and sought a direction to quash the two notifications.