Karnataka   

People oppose plan for platinum mining

DAVANGERE: People have come out openly against the proposed mining of platinum in Chennagiri taluk in the district.

Top officials from the Geological Survey of India (GSI) have been conducting surveys in villages in Umbrani hobli of Chennagiri taluk. According to primary reports, platinum has been found at many locations in the hobli.

Though it is being studied whether mining of platinum here is viable or not, people are against the move fearing destruction of natural resources, the most crucial being groundwater.

The possibility that many villages would have be shifted to facilitate mining has also set the alarm bells ringing.

Umbrani hobli, which became part of Davangere district during the reorganisation of districts some years ago, is known for its scenic beauty.

Based on satellite imagery, the Union Government sent a team of geologists, who reportedly conducted an extensive survey in villages such as Jaipur, Nellihankalu, Chikkamalali, Chikkasandi, Kaggi and Mugalihalli.

It is said that platinum mining is considered viable if five grams of platinum can be extracted from a tonne of ore mined.

According to sources in the Department of Mines and Geology, the availability in the region is three grams. Platinum is in great demand in the international market, and the Union Government is expected to take a decision soon on whether to go ahead with mining

Umbrani hobli has plenty of groundwater unlike other hoblis in the taluk, where the water-table has depleted. Farmers have cultivated arecanut on thousands of hectares in the region.

The farmers fear that if platinum mining begins, groundwater sources would be destroyed. Crops were destroyed by a severe drought around six years ago in the region.

Davangere MP Siddeshwar; Chennagiri MLA Vadnal Rajanna, Gurubasava Swamiji of Pandomatti Veeraktha Math and several environmentalists have joined the farmers in the protests against the proposed mining.

They have submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner M.B. Dyaberi.

Mr. Dyaberi has written to the Geological Survey of India appealing it to stop the survey work as it may create law and order problems in the region.

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