Activists ask Karnataka government to end mining, quarrying in Bannerghatta National Park

By Divya J Shekhar

BENGALURU: Activists in Bengaluru are demanding that the State government and forest department take stringent action to stop mining and quarrying activities around the Bannerghatta National Park (BNP). They have urged that the 260 sq. km national park located in the outskirts of Bengaluru and its eco-sensitive zones are being threatened by rampant urbanization and industrialization.

Speaking in a press conference organized by a nonprofit organisation United Bengaluru, freedom fighter HS Doreswamy and tree activist Vijay Nishanth explained that despite the apex court has set a 10-km default buffer zone around the national park, many mining operations have been operating well within this zone.


An RTI query by the nonprofit has revealed that there are disturbances to the movement of wildlife in the area due to explosion. Mining companies operating within the eco-sensitive zones, the RTI query reveals, have diverted the natural flow of water in the national park by dumping mining debris into the streams.

The nonprofit organisation has demanded that the government impose stringent penalties on violators and constitute and inspection committee to assess damage to BMP and its eco-sensitive zones.