The Hindu : Karnataka News : Granite mining at Nilambur raises ecological concerns

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 28, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Others

Granite mining at Nilambur raises ecological concerns

Abdul Latheef Naha

Forest Department intervened and stopped mining

NILAMBUR: The recent mining of granite rocks in the Nilambur forest has raised serious environmental concerns. Although the Forest Department has intervened and stopped mining, the issue has brought to surface many questions related to not only environment, but also the secrecy of the Mining and Geology Department as well.

As the Nilambur forest acts as buffer zone for the Silent Valley National Park, any mining activity here is viewed as a threat to the flora and fauna of the valley.

On the other side, Nilambur forest is connected to the Muthumala Wildlife Sanctuary. Environmentalists are worried about the ecological damage that mining in Nilambur can bring about to the adjoining areas.

Further, the haste and secrecy with which a private group started granite mining on the 3.3-acre land within Kozhipra Malavaram forest area here has raised doubts about their possible access to the classified information available with the Mining and Geology Department.

A group of people had bought the land here in the name of a Muvattupuzha-based firm called United India Company about six months ago. In a couple of months, they started mining for granite rocks after getting licence from the Mining and Geology Department.

It is suspected that the group had bought the land with prior knowledge about the granite deposit in the area. This is believed to be classified information available with the Mining and Geology Department.

Survey results leaked

Environmentalists and Forest Department officials have raised concerns over the suspected leakage of geological survey results. Similar hasty mining operations have also been reported from sensitive areas of Idukki, Nelliampathy and Mangalore.

The Supreme Court has made it mandatory to get a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Forest Department before starting any mining activity within five km of reserved forest area. The granite mining at Kozhipra Malavaram was done without an NOC from the Forest Department. Neither had the private group gained the permission of the Revenue Divisional Officer or the grama panchayat.

The Divisional Forest Officer (South), N.C. Induchoodan, stopped the mining by putting up a check-post on the road to the plot. Mr. Induchoodan said that it was mandatory for the Forest Department to protect this buffer zone of the Silent Valley. According to him, permission of the Supreme Court Empowered Committee is needed before any mining activity is conducted in the forest area.

Nearly 10 truckloads of granite rocks have already been dug out from Kozhipra Malavaram before the DFO imposed the ban. The black granite, known locally as `krishnasila,' is believed to fetch a good value abroad. Granite rocks of similar quality are rarely found in the country.

Kozhipra Malavaram and surrounding areas originally belonged to Mankavu Kovilakam. In 1920, it was given to Rayinkutty Haji for trapping elephants and collecting minor forest produce. The Haji later sold portions of the land to others without the consent of the `kovilakam.'

The Government took over much of this area in 1971 under the Kerala Private Forest Vesting and Assignment Act, 1971. This vested forestland is now being considered reserve forest.

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