Rampant illegal iron ore mining in Chitradurga and Tumkur districts has caused severe damage to agriculture and horticulture activities, as well as spreading of mining related diseases among the people of the region, a study has found.

The micro-level environmental impact assessment study conducted in the two districts by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) also expressed concern over large-scale damages due to violations of environmental norms.

The Central environmental impact assessment team, which conducted the first phase of their survey in the mining areas of the State last year, are back in the district for the second phase.

The team, which held a meeting with officers of various departments at JSW Steel’s auditorium in Torangal on Thursday afternoon, visited the RBSSN mining area in Hospet in the evening.

To understand the ecological impact that indiscriminate mining has had on the forests in Bellary, Chitradurga and Tumkur, a team led by Dr V K Bahuguna, Director General of Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), is visiting the mining-affected areas for the next two days.

The team of 25 officials, including forest and mining officials, will conduct a study of the entire mining region to submit a report on the request of the State Government, which had asked for a detailed report on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in the mining region.

Karnataka has sought Rs 2,605.99 cr

Citing that the drought situation in the State is indeed of a serious nature, the Central team which visited the State to assess the drought situation in December has opined that there is no exaggeration in Karnataka’s claims.

Sector with 14% share of IIP will slow down growth & affect power sector investments. An unprecedented crackdown on corruption in India’s mining industry, led by the Supreme Court and state-level agencies such as Karnataka’s Lokayukta, coupled with rigorous enforcement of environmental norms is resulting in collateral damage to the economy, with plunging mining output leading to a fall in industrial production and GDP growth.

State Bank of India commits investment of Rs 40,000 crore to fund projects

The State’s maiden international investment meet, exclusively for agriculture sector, on Thursday attracted proposals of over Rs 53,000 crore by 31 players in agri-business projects amid protests by farmers against private investment in farm and allied sectors.

The Supreme Court on Friday asked its central empowered committee (CEC) to enquire into allegations of mining irregularities by Jindal Steel and Adani Enterprises, based on the Karnataka Lokayukta report. Once the committee reports to the court, the matter may be sent to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for further investigation.

However, in a statement, Adani Enterprises clarified it had no iron ore mine in Karnataka or anywhere else in the country. It said it did not have any interest in iron ore, except rendering port services to exporters/miners of the ore.

The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), appointed by the Supreme Court to conduct a macro-level environment impact assessment study report of Bellary district in Karnataka in view of widespread illegal iron ore mining, has recommended measures with far-reaching implications.

The study has found large-scale damage to the environment, flora and fauna and socio-economic levels of the population in and around mining areas. It has favoured the continuation of mining only by large leaseholders, meaning companies with at least 50 hectares of leased area.