According to the 2006 tiger census, Karnataka has about 290 tigers, nearly 100 of whom roam the forests of Bandipur. Karnataka’s tigers constitute about 21 per cent of the country’s big cat population. The total tiger reserve across the State is spread over 5,500 sq kms.
In a 2008 report to the State Government, the Lokaykta recommended preserving the fragile eco-systems and not allow mining activities in the reserve forests. It had specifically asked the Government to undo the earlier Cabinet decision of March 15, 2003 when 13 blocks (11,620, sq kms area) of forest land, including these six blocks, were de-reserved. Disregarding the recommendation, the then government went ahead and de-reserved the 13 blocks to allow private sector mining.
The Lokayukta, which conducted a detailed investigation into the then Government’s decision, found top officials of the departments of Mines and Geology and Commerce and Industries responsible for flouting its recommendation. The officials had misled the Government, saying that the blocks were only bushy areas and not thick forests, the Lokayukta had exposed in its report.
The B S Yeddyurappa government was fully aware of the Lokayukta report since it was placed before the Cabinet ministers when they met here on Saturday.
The four most-sought-after blocks (numbered 13, 14, 15 and 17) in Bellary come under the Ramgad, Joga, Gunda, Hospet and Donimalai reserved forests. The Government has already notified 300 hectares of mining areas in Donimalai reserved forest. Other reserve forests where mining will be allowed are block number 8 in Shimoga, under Jedikatte reserve forest, and block number 22 in Mysore under Bolegoudankatte Tiger reserve and Chikkanahalli reserve forest areas. In Mysore, there is a potential for mining Manganese, Chromite and Kyanite but not iron ore.
The Cabinet decided to allot mining leases in these areas on merit basis and not on seniority basis so that it can make discretionary allotments. It was also decided to award leases to only those who add value to the mineral by setting up steel plants.
Sources fear that the Cabinet decision will open a pandoras’ box. “Once a lease is allotted in these blocks, illegal mining will start simultaneously. The State will not only lose its mineral resources but the priceless forest cover too,” sources explained.