Fresh mining push in Tumakuru forest raises ecological concerns

The Forest Department has given its consent for diversion of 119.23 acres of forestland in Tumakuru district for mining purpose that will result in axing of nearly 17,200 trees.

The proposed mining project is in Thirtharamapura Reserve Forest, and is spread across Gollarahalli, Hosahalli, Kodihalli, Tonalapura, and Lakmenahalli in Chikkanayakanahalli taluk.

The department, in its letter dated May 14, 2025, recommended for ‘moving the proposal’ with the Union government for according ‘in-principle’ approval of diversion of 119.23 acres or 48.20 hectares of forestland.

Incidentally, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) had conducted a site inspection close to the current location and had turned down two other mining proposals in the past, by different project proponents.

The inspection report carried out by the Deputy Conservator of Forests (Central) in 2017 stated that the area was mined from 1952 to 1998, and the original lease was split to many mining companies by the Department of Mines and Geology in violation of the Forest Conservation Act.

The report also stated that ‘currently, the forests are showing regeneration and during the visit there were direct sightings of chital, black-naped hare, while scats of sloth bear and leopard were also seen. The area, the report pointed out, sheltered migratory population of elephants from Bannerghatta National Park to Bhadra between September and December.

The MoEF&CC also stated that the area was the only watershed for the villages surrounding Chikkanayanakahalli, a drought hit area and hence it would be prudent not to divert it for mining, from the watershed point of view and maintained for ecological restoration.

Meanwhile, wildlife conservationist Giridhar Kulkarni has raised alarm over the Forest Department’s decision to allow fresh mining in the ecologically sensitive forest areas of Tumakuru district, despite prior rejections of similar proposals by the MoEF&CC.

Mr. Kulkarni, in a letter dated June 6, 2025, has appealed to Additional Chief Secretary (Forest, Ecology, and Environment) Anjum Parwez to reject the proposal seeking diversion of forestland for mining on the grounds that the area was rich in wildlife, acts as a critical watershed, and has already suffered from ecologically damaging mining practices in the past.

He pointed out that the MoEF&CC inspection report has flagged the potential impact on waterbodies and recommended against any further mining. He warned that if approved, mining will further escalate human-wildlife conflict and undermine the ecological restoration under way in the region.

Underlining the imperatives of rejecting the proposal, Mr. Kulkarni said the project will also have a negative bearing on the livelihood of the local communities in and around Chikkanayakanahalli. This is in addition to escalation of human-animal conflict, he added.

Published - June 09, 2025 09:02 pm IST