Whistleblowers demand action against mineral looting along Belagavi border

Caption: Social activists Rajkumar Topannavar and Sujeet Mulgund submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner Mohammad Roshan on Tuesday Belagavi: Social activists Rajkumar Topannavar and Sujeet Mulgund submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner on Tuesday, demanding a stop to environmentally harmful activities, including mineral looting along Belagavi border. They alleged that illegal mining of minerals is taking place extensively in areas around Khanapur and Belagavi taluk and expressed dissatisfaction regarding the environmental destruction.In a memorandum submitted to the DC, they allegedly stated that in the villages of Khanapur and Belagavi taluk, bauxite, laterite and silica are being extracted from the earth. These illegal activities are taking place in Belagundi, Bakanur, Bijagarni, Golyali, Amate, Betageri, Kinaye, Inam Badas and Torali villages of Khanapur taluk. Mining is being carried out on farmlands without farmers' permission, which is damaging the land. Minerals are being extracted in these parts of Karnataka by misusing mining passes issued to areas near Maharashtra. There is a suspicion that these minerals are being transported to Dalmia Cement and Chettinad Cement companies.They informed that illegal mining activities are being carried out from 2am to 6am. Such operations are being carried out to avoid the attention of the police and other govt authorities. The increased traffic of heavy trucks on the western roads of Belagavi and Khanapur has caused concern among locals.The area around Khanapur and Belagavi is environmentally sensitive. Illegal mining is causing serious environmental damage, including forest destruction, groundwater depletion and soil erosion. In this context, they demanded an immediate investigation to stop illegal mining and strict action against the culprits.The villages where illegal mining is being carried out lie in a highly sensitive ecological zone. They are in close proximity to Dhamne Reserve Forest, near Tilari Wildlife Sanctuary, near Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary, adjacent to Deemed Forests and Reserve Forest areas, and near Elephant Corridor in Khanapur taluk, with the presence of tributaries and nalas feeding major river systems, they informed.Illegal mining is causing deforestation, soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, threat to wildlife corridors, destruction of water recharge zones and pollution & dust affecting agriculture and habitation.In Torali village, mining permission is reportedly granted by the Department of Mines and Geology without obtaining a mandatory NOC from the Forest Department. Officials of the department of mines and geology are allegedly exploiting loopholes and acting in collusion with mining operators, they alleged.In view of these activities, they urged the govt to order an immediate district-level enquiry into illegal mining activities, satellite-based mapping of affected areas, a drone survey every three months to monitor illegal mining, suspension of new mining permissions in the region until the enquiry is completed, formation of a special task force to curb illegal mining, and investigation into the role of officials involved.They warned that if not addressed immediately, it may lead to irreversible damage to the fragile Western Ghats ecosystem and the agricultural livelihoods of local farmers.