Why not ban all mining activity in AP and Karnataka, asks SC

NEW DELHI: Concerned by extensive damage to the environment, the Supreme Court on Friday asked why a blanket ban be not imposed on mining operations in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

To drive home the danger of rampant mining causing irreversible damage to environment, the green bench of Chief Justice S H Kapadia and Justices Aftab Alam and Swatanter Kumar 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."

The bench's query reflected the April 15 report of the Central Empowered Committee, which described the environmental loss caused by mining in and surrounding Bellary as colossal and unparalleled.

Out of 266 mines in Karnataka, 134 are spread across 11,604 hectares of forest area. By a conservative estimate of Rs 5,000 per tonne, the CEC pegged the value of the illegally exported iron ore from Karnataka at Rs 15,245 crore. The CEC is to file a detailed report by August 15 following a survey of boundaries of mining leases.

The bench felt that the alarming environmental situation needed immediate protection measures. It said: "Should we get bogged down to fixing of (mining) boundaries or should we follow our rule in the Aravalli mining cases 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."

But before passing any interim order, the court intends to hear all the parties -- the state governments, private mine-lease holders and amicus curiae Shyam Divan.

Quoting July 4 CEC report, Divan said the Joint Survey Team was expected to complete demarcation of boundaries of 99 mining leases in Karnataka by August 15. "So far, work was complete with regard to 39 leases of which 22 were asked to shut down operation," he added.

He agreed with the court on the need for a ban on mining and said even the Karnataka government had conceded that iron ore reserves in the state were fast depleting and could be exhausted in 30 years.