Centre's boss on forests, Ramesh tells Yeddyurappa

NEW DELHI: The Centre has stepped in to remind the Karnataka government that when it comes to reserved forests, it has the last word. The environment ministry has plainly told the Karnataka government that its decision to allow mining in 5,000 sqkm of reserved forest for mining was just not legally tenable.

Responding to concerns about the decision raised by Karnataka MPs, cutting across party lines, environment minister Jairam Ramesh has raised the matter with Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa. In his letter, Mr Ramesh made it clear that while the state government may have approved the proposal to throw open reserved forests for mining, “the final authority, as far as diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes is the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests as per the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.”

The environment minister stressed that the state government’s decision to allow mining in the reserved forest area was not taken in consultation with his ministry. “I wish to state categorically that the Union ministry of environment has not been consulted by the state on this decision,” the environment minister wrote. It would appear that state home minister V S Acharya had given the impression that the decision was taken in consultation with the Centre.

The state government’s decision will mean that private sector mining companies can set up operations in mineral rich, reserved forest areas in Bellary (four blocks), Shimoga (one block) and Mysore (one block). The blocks in Bellary stretch are the most sought after as it contains high value iron ore. There are 3000 applications for mining leases in these six block pending before the government. It is also understood that the state government would like to allot captive mine to Arcelor-Mittal and Posco in the Bellary area.

But all this may remain a pipe dream. Mr Ramesh stressed that companies will require to get prior approval from the central ministry if it is to set up operations in reserved forest areas.