Job interview | ‘We really should not be endorsing mining in untouched areas’: B K Dikshit Principal Chief Conservator of Forests
B.K. Dikshit, Principal Main Conservator of Forests, states the forest section and Condition government’s disagreement signifies conflict.
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On June 22, the Karnataka federal government halted the transfer of 401.57 hectares of land which is element of the Sandur forest in Ballari to Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Confined (KIOCL) for mining functions. Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre of the Siddaramaiah-led Congress governing administration issued this clarification right after Union Minister for Steel and Hefty Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy introduced the Centre’s approval to lease the land to KIOCL on June 18. Specified the potential environmental expenses, the task and Kumaraswamy’s aid for it faced backlash. Khandre halted the handover of forest land to KIOCL, stating, “If authorization is supplied for mining, 99,330 trees will be slice down and ruined. If the dense forest is ruined, difficulties of soil erosion and flooding will arise”.
This final decision came following a Point out-amount critique meeting in which the environmental influence of mining and earlier violations by KIOCL ended up talked about. Kumaraswamy speedily responded, terming Karnataka’s objections “a unilateral decision”. Frontline interviewed B.K. Dikshit, Principal Main Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Power), who participated in the evaluate assembly with the Forest Minister, to realize the Karnataka forest department’s stance on the concern and much more. Excerpts:
Numerous people are linking the backlash to the mining task, being pushed by the NDA federal government, in Sandur to the Congress remaining in electric power in Karnataka. But the forest office was against this job even throughout the BJP government’s tenure in the Condition. Why is the forest office against this task?
It is commonly regarded that Karnataka has extremely very good forests throughout the Western Ghats. Most places of this area get heavy rainfall and have a healthy nutrient cycle. But there are a lot of areas where rainfall is not that large but nonetheless we have evergreen and semi-evergreen forests. Sandur is just one such space. Men and women could inquire, “What is there in Ballari? What form of forest is this?” But you go to Sandur and you will be shocked by the loaded forests existing there.
Sandur has iron and manganese. We all concur. It is also true that these minerals are demanded for progress. But, as significantly as doable, we ought to guarantee that minimal regions are offered for mining. If KIOCL or any other business needs to get started mining, they can glance at parts where mining has taken place and forests are by now fragmented .
But we must not be promoting mining in untouched places. The Forest Minister was also indicating the identical point [during the review meeting]. There are some mines in which element of the operate was carried out and then deserted since the grade of the iron ore was deemed minimal. But this grade is now staying considered as great for use. So, old, deserted mines can be taken up and manufactured feasible. This is a improved option than breaking up new forests in Sandur.
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Could you elaborate on the stand taken by the forest division when KIOCL initially submitted its proposal for mining?
KIOCL had used for clearance in 2018. The then Deputy Conservator of Forests, Chief Conservator of Forests, Added Principal Main Conservator of Forests, and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests as properly as divisional and array forest officers were unanimous that all-around 1 lakh trees would be felled and that did not bode nicely for the surroundings. But then we learnt that the Union governing administration had regarded as the proposal and resolved it was favourable to make it possible for mining. This was in 2022 [when the BJP was in power in the State].
We do not know how the selections had been taken at the Condition amount due to the fact copies of letters never appear to us. We, as the forest division, experienced taken a unanimous determination but the Point out government sits at an apex level. But you can see that if the forest department has opposed and the State authorities has proposed, then there is some conflict. There is no whole agreement from the bottom to the leading. This wants to be solved. The basis and rationale for this disagreement was talked over in the assembly with the Forest Minister. The forest division conveyed that the trees, the land, and the ore belong to the State. So, we can make your mind up on no matter whether to go in advance with the permissions or impose some problems.
When individuals listen to “Sandur” or “Ballari”, they really do not immediately imagine of rich forests. At most, they think about degraded forests. And mining. As the head of the forest office, what would you say about this?
We have a doing the job strategy for the Ballari forest division. If you go by it, you will know what is the flora and fauna in Sandur. My own encounter in Sandur is that the temperature is reduce than surrounding locations of Ballari. The heat is considerably reduce and it has a pretty great microclimate. There are also quite a few waterfalls in these forests. If you check out Google maps, you will see mines but also waterfalls in the forests. This is what we will need to conserve due to the fact it is a catchment spot. If we get rid of them, drinking water excellent will go down. This is why the forest office is not in favour of non-forestry pursuits in these places.
Apart from abundant biodiversity, the other rationale for opposing mining in Sandur is the KIOCL’s background of authorized violations. What are your views on this? Does the forest office view mining proposals otherwise when they arrive from a enterprise with a terrible keep track of record?
Sure, this was an issue throughout discussions. We reviewed how KIOCL undertook mining in Kudremukh which was not in compliance with the legislation. They improved the height of Lakya dam and the space under submergence enhanced. They also transported iron ore from Kudremukh to Mangalore by pipes. This was accomplished with out permission and devoid of generating payment. Now KIOCL desires to take corrective steps. Let the earlier be established correct 1st and then we will consider about the foreseeable future.
On your next question about the company’s observe report, no, we do not assess proposals in a various way based on the organization submitting them. We poetically call this “dispassionately passionate”. We make conclusions based on info of the situation. A company’s monitor document would make a difference if they really don’t suitable it. But a decision to not established a little something proper is not a excellent point.
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KIOCL has not corrected earlier violations. Mining dues are continue to pending. The company has also not implemented recommendations provided by the Central Empowered Committee with respect to its violations.
Up right until now, yes. They have not. In the foreseeable future, they can.
Even if KIOCL pays all its dues and obtains clean forest permissions, the hurt to biodiversity will even now be there. Will the forest office agree to the mining proposal if previous problems are corrected?
This problem continues to be open. But the forest department—from variety forest officers to major officials—has mentioned in unison that this is not a very good proposal. So, I are unable to personally choose a stand and say it is a fantastic proposal. I have no grounds to reconsider or disagree. The damage that mining will trigger is far too large. The calculation that just about 1 lakh trees [99,330 to be precise] will be lower was assessed by the forest department. Quite a few people today have by now applied their thoughts.
Recently, there was news of reviving mining in Kolar Gold Fields (KGF). With H.D. Kumaraswamy heading the Weighty Industries and Steel Ministry, there could be extra proposals for iron ore mining in the Point out. What are the forest department’s sights on ore mining in Karnataka?
The principle continues to be the exact same. If you are proposing to use an space which was presently fragmented, the forest section may well be extra favourable to contemplate the proposal since you are not creating a new wound. Whether or not it’s KGF or Hatti gold mines or any other proposal, we will evaluate new damage.
Indicating if the complete entire world is a forest, almost everything will be hunky dory is not anybody’s scenario. But it is also real that if each past tree is slash, we will not be equipped to sustain progress. We need to have a balance. As the forest office, we are eager to compromise but it is hard to compromise when the ecosystems are unique and the forests are virgin forests.
Rishika Pardikar is an setting reporter masking science, legislation, and coverage.