Bellary: In a landmark effort to address environmental damage caused by mining, Karnataka’s forest and environment minister Eshwar B Khandre, has announced plans to set up an arboretum in mine-affected taluk. The initiative, which leverages Karnataka Mines Environmental Restoration Corporation (KMERC) funds, aims to restore the ecological balance in areas ravaged by extensive mining.
During a review meeting at the Forest Department office in Bellary, Khandre emphasized the urgent need to rehabilitate degraded lands. “This arboretum will not only revive the local ecosystem but also serve as a resource for environmental education and biodiversity conservation,” he said.
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Wildlife and Forest Protection Plans
Khandre also addressed the critical need for implementing wildlife conservation plans in the mining zones. He instructed officials to ensure the maintenance of water holes to prevent wildlife from suffering water shortages during the dry season.
Expressing concerns about forest degradation, Khandre sought to know the status of C-category mines in the Bellary circle. He sought details about the amount of degraded land allocated for remedial afforestation and the progress in planting valuable species like sandalwood and teak. Disappointed with incomplete responses, he directed officials to geotag important tree species and strengthen conservation efforts across divisions like Davangere, Koppal, Bellary, Vijayanagar, and Chitradurga.
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Fighting Encroachments
The minister also addressed complaints of forest encroachments for unauthorized mining. Stressing the importance of satellite imagery and KML maps, he instructed officials to vigilantly monitor forest boundaries to curb illegal activities.
Halt on Devadari Forest Mining
In a related development, Khandre recently stopped leasing forest land for iron ore mining in the ecologically sensitive Devadari forest area in Sandur, Ballari. The decision was taken to prevent the felling of nearly 99,330 trees and the subsequent risk of soil erosion and habitat destruction.
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Environmentalists and local communities applauded this move, noting that the Devadari Hills are home to medicinal plant species like Boswellia serrata, which are critical for biodiversity and human health. “Mining in such areas poses a grave threat to the environment and the livelihoods dependent on it,” said a conservationist.
A Path Toward Restoration
Under Khandre’s leadership, the forest, ecology and environment department is also distributing saplings to farmers and increasing nursery activities to meet local demands for afforestation. In addition, he urged officials to focus on rejuvenating degraded lands and prioritizing projects that balance development with sustainability.
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This initiative signals a turning point in Karnataka’s approach to ecological restoration, aiming to mitigate mining’s long-term impact while fostering community participation in conservation.
