Tumkur must ensure order implementation

TUMKUR: The district administration has a big role to implement the Supreme Court’s blanket ban on iron ore mining in the district.As many as 24 mining companies were operating in Chikkanayakanahalli, Tiptur and Gubbi taluks in the district of which 18 were restricted from operation for a while for alleged violation of norms.The administration had imposed a penalty of Rs 206 crore on 13 companies of which only six complied resulting in a collection of only Rs 8 crore while the rest moved court.Officials sources confirm that the Goa-based Tumkur Minerals was fined `139 crore.It must be noted that chief of Samaja Parivarthana Trust S R Hiremath had moved the court when the Central Empowered Committee visited mining areas in the district on August 9 and 10.Until the CEC team visit, six mining leases, including that to Karnataka Lympo Cements, Sudarshan Mining Company, Upendra Mines, Karnataka Mining Company and B R Ganapathi Mining Company, were under operation.All that will change with the SC order.Environmentalists from the district are, understandably, happy and are anticipating the visit of another inspection from a Central team to study the affect of rampant mining on the biodiversity.Journalist Kote Nagabhushan who had accompanied S R Hiremath during the CEC visit to the district welcomed the decision.He suggested that the damage to the environment should be addressed by the district administration expediently.