Express News Service reported that the Karnataka State Forest Protection Forum said that it is contemplating on filing a Public Interest Litigation in the High Court, if the State government failed to cancel the notification for auctioning of iron ore silt deposited in the reserve forest areas of Bellary district.

Mr Chi Na Ramu president of Karnataka State Forest Protection Forum alleged the public auctioning is a violation of the Forest Conservation Act Section (2) and the Karnataka Forest Act 1963 Section 24 (1).

Mr Ramu said that "By recommending the public auction, the State government has encouraged illegal mining in Bellary district. Mining license has to be obtained from the central government, but Conservator of Forest, Bellary Circle, by passed the law and called for public auction to sell the iron ore silt.”

He added that a memorandum has already been submitted to Mr BS Yeddyurappa chief minister of Karnataka demanding cancellation of the notification sanctioning the auction of iron ore silt, and if the government failed to do so, the forum would file a PIL in the High Court.