Karnataka - Bidar   

Permission to mining activity threatening environment ruled out

By Our Staff Correspondent

BIDAR, DEC. 20. Mining licenses will not be given in Male Mahadeshwar Hills and surrounding forests if such activity is potentially dangerous to the environment, the Minister for Forests, Ecology and Wildlife, Gurupadappa Nagamarapalli, has said.

Speaking to presspersons here on Monday after being felicitated by Congress workers, Mr. Nagamarapalli said he would discuss the issue with the Chief Minister and also the Cabinet before taking a decision. Experts would be consulted, he added.

He said, "Any mining activity in the State will be stopped if it was found to be damaging to the environment.'' About H.C. Mahadev Prasad's statement that mining licenses would be given in the Male Mahadeshwar Hills area as the forest brigand, Veerappan, had been eliminated, Mr. Nagamarapalli said he would reply after studying the situation.

As many as 2,000 vacant posts in the Forest Department would be filled in a year, he said. He said he would take up the issue on priority and place it at the next Cabinet meeting.

Earlier, replying to the felicitation, Mr. Nagamarapalli promised to provide funds in addition to those promised by the Chief Minister in the package for Bidar. "We will work for the comprehensive development of the district. We are hopeful of all help from the Union Government. We are sure that our requests for funds and schemes will be entertained," Mr. Nagamarapalli said.

This was his first visit to the district after being sworn in as a Minister. The rally scheduled to start at 11 a.m. started five hours late. Party workers received Mr. Nagamarapalli on the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border near Zaheerabad. The Minister was brought in a van in a procession. However, people were put to inconvenience as the rally affected vehicular traffic between noon and 6.30 p.m.

On Sunday, Mr. Nagamarapalli visited the Jidga Mutt and promised to present a sandalwood chariot. Sri Shadakshari Shivayogi Swamiji of the mutt blessed Mr. Nagamarapalli.

The MP, Narsingrao Suryavanshi, the MLCs, Quazi Arshad Ali and Maruthi Male, the Congress leaders, Ishwar Khandre and B. Narayan, were present in Monday's rally.

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