SC panel recommends halting mining in two more Karnataka districts

After Bellary, mining operation in its two adjoining areas are facing the threat of being suspended by the Supreme Court as its expert panel on Friday recommended the halting of extraction of iron ores in Tumkur and Chitradurga districts of Karnataka.
A three-judge forest bench headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia sought a response of the Centre and the state government on the recommendation of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) which said mining operation was going on in a “reckless” and environmentally unsustainable manner with the prime objective of over exploitation of iron ore for short term private gains.
The committee, in its latest report submitted to the apex court, said there was a loss of forest land due to illegal mining of iron ore in 2678 hectare in Tumkur and Chitradurga, which witnessed illegal mining and excessive production compared to the size of lease.