Even though the land bearing survey number 51 of Shivapura in Tarikere taluk is a deemed forest, the deputy conservator of forests (DCF) has issued No Objection Certificate for minors, to carry out mining activities in Navilugudda, which will be detrimental to the existence of the hill and its biodiversity.
The DCF has submitted a report to the Mines and Geology department that the quoted land falls under the definition of Gomala and not under deemed forest, as per the government order dated May 15, 2014.
“As there are no plants and trees in the specified number per hectare, the major portion of the land is left out from deemed forest limit,” said Tarikere ACF Shrinivas.
The Mines and Geology department has granted permission to carry out mining in Navilugudda, which is on the border of Western Ghats, for a period of 30 years. The contractors have been using explosives to mine the decorative stones.
Environmentalist A N Yellappa Redyy said that neither the Forest department nor the government has the power to change the definition of deemed forest.
A senior Forest department official said that the report by the forest officials, stating that the abovesaid land of Navilugudda does not fall under the limits of deemed forest, is inconsistent.
Navilugudda has a wide range of biodiversity with flora and fauna. The hills have been helpful in bringing the rains. The mining activity has been posing threat to the historic ‘Durgada Kote’ and the houses in the nearby village.
The people of Kudlur, Shivapura, Koratikere and Pundanahalli have opposed stone mining in Navilugudda. In contrary, 21 others have applied to the Mines and Geology department requesting grants for mining in the vicinity.