DNA reported that concerned about extensive damage to the environment caused by mining activity in Karnataka and adjoining Andhra Pradesh, particularly in the Bellary Hospet region, the India’s Supreme Court on Friday said it would impose a blanket ban on mining operations in the two states if further evidence of environmental damage was found.
A forest bench of the apex court comprising Chief Justice SH Kapadia, Justice Aftab Alam and Justice Swatanter Kumar, while hearing a public interest litigation, said “If the environment and forest in the area has been devastated and ravaged to such extent that it can no longer bear any further damage, then the question arises what is to be done immediately. If the impact of the mining is environmental degradation, we will stop the mining. We are looking at the macro picture. Prima facie there is excessive mining.”
The bench felt that the situation needed immediate remedial measures.
It asked “Should we get bogged down to fixing of mining boundaries or should we follow our rule in the Aravalli mining cases in Haryana that till damage is remedied, there be suspension of mining?"
It said “We are aware that some lessees are genuine, but everybody must contribute so that further loss can be restored. Since the degradation is so deep the damage done cannot be undone.”
The bench's observations are based on the 2008 report of the Karnataka Lok Ayukta followed by a 15 April report of a joint 'central empowered committee which it had set up. The committee described the environmental loss caused by mining in and surrounding Bellary as colossal and unparalleled.
The court, though, made it clear that it did not intend to ban NMDC Ltd, a central public sector mining company, operating in the region with large mining leases. Chief Justice Kapadia said “'Central public sector companies can be exempt from our ban because there has to be some balance. We don't want the economy to face shortfall of iron ore supply.”
Before passing any interim order, the court intends to hear all the parties concerned the state governments, private mine lease holders, and amicus curiae (council assisting the court) Shyam Divan.
Out of 266 mines in Karnataka, 134 are spread across 11,604 hectares of forest area. Bellary has 148 mines of which 98 are located in forest areas and are at the centre of the dispute. As many as 40 mining lease areas in the forests have already been directed to end mining on grounds of violations.
The Karnataka government had banned exports last year to control illegal mining. The Supreme Court lifted the ban in April, but exports have not completely resumed yet as there are now stricter transport permit rules, said miners.
(Sourced from DNA)
