Karnataka - Bellary   

Ramgarh back in the spotlight

BELLARY: Ramgarh village in Sandur taluk, which was once known for its rich biodiversity and a hill station where the kings of Sandur, and the British, used to stay in summer, has become a haven for illegal mining ever since the demand for iron ore began rising in the international market. The summer palace of the king of Sandur is still there in the village.

Till 2002, the village with about 50 houses and no civic amenities remained unknown to people outside Bellary district. There were some buildings constructed by the British.

After the iron ore boom, the village shot to fame for large-scale mining. Now, Ramgarh appears to be mired in controversy because of confusion among officials of the departments of Revenue and Forests regarding the 265 acres of the 2,395 acres surrendered by the king of Sandur to the Government. The officials do not know whether the 265 acres is revenue (patta) or forest land. According to the records, the State Government, in 1985, declared 7,769.85 hectares in the Ramgarh block, including the 2,395 acres surrendered by the king of Sandur, as forest land.

Letter

With the authorities of both the departments still confused, a Range Forest Officer in Sandur issued a letter in 2002 stating that the 265 acres of land was not forest land. Based on that letter, the Revenue Department began issuing no-objection certificates to mining companies.

Once such a certificate was obtained, there was no need for the companies to obtain forest clearance for mining in the 265 acres. There were also reports of some portions of the 265 acres being sold with fabricated documents. In May 2010, the then Assistant Commissioner and Forest Settlement Officer, Bellary, passed an order stating that the 265 acres was “not forest land”. The Forest Department opposed the move and filed an appeal before the Karnataka Appellate Tribunal to set aside the May 2010 order on the ground that it was in violation of the procedures in the Karnataka Forest Act, 1963, and the claims made by 14 claimants that the order was based on false and fabricated documents.

The Deputy Conservator of Forest on Thursday cancelled no-objection certificates granted to 13 companies for mining in the disputed 265 acres.

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