Date:15/03/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/15/stories/2007031502610300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

`Stop quarrying in Bannerghatta park'

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court has directed the Government to take steps to prohibit quarrying activities, if they are being so permitted, within the safe zone of the Bannerghatta National Park.

It also directed the Government to conduct a survey of the park to determine whether quarrying activities were being conducted beyond the one kilometre radius of the park boundary.

It was dealing with a petition by S. Lakshminarayana of Chikkahosahalli, Thammanayakanahalli Post, Anekal taluk, challenging the decision of the Government on December 5, 2002, in cancelling the quarry licence.

He said he had been granted licence by the Department of Mines and Geology to quarry granite stone in two acres of land in Thammanayakanahalli. The land in the survey number was 651 acres and 19 guntas. He said he had spent Rs. 10 lakh to construct an approach road to the quarry.

The Government said the quarry fell within the safe zone and that the lease was cancelled after obtaining a report from the Forest Department. Contesting this, the petitioner said there are several other quarries within the 300-metre zone, and there was discrimination against him.

Disposing of the petition, Justice Huluvadi G. Ramesh directed the Revenue, Forest and Mines and Geology departments to carry out within two months a survey of the area and take a decision.

The departments were asked to give notice to the petitioner before conducting the survey.