In April 2010, the Forest Settlement Officer (FSO) had passed an order for the denotification of 265 acres of forest land falling in Ramgad reserved forest. Perversely, the denotification was effected under a provision in the Karnataka Forest Act meant to restore the rights of forest dwellers.
The petitioners, Samaja Parivartana Samudaya, have submitted to the CEC that rampant illegal mining was taking place at Ramgad without the mandatory forest clearances. A Deccan Herald report earlier this month pointed out that survey numbers 5-35 submitted for conversion were forged by mining firms, and several of them had produced fictitious documents to make their claim.
In its 10-page communique to the State government, the CEC has specifically asked if the government obtained the approval of the Supreme Court for deletion of the areas from the reserved forest.
“Before implementing the decision taken by the FSO(irrespective of the validity or otherwise of the decision), the State of Karnataka is required to take (a) permission from the Hon’ble Supreme Court and (b) approval under the Forest(Conservation) Act,” it reminded the government.
The CEC has also sought whether the mining leases were sanctioned without the approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act.
Interestingly, the Committee has also sought information on whether there was any difference of opinion between the departments of forest, mining and revenue over the area being a forest land for the purpose of the Forest (Conservation) Act.
MSPL responds
In response to the Deccan Herald report on denotification of forest land, MSPL Limited, whose subsidiary Ramgad Mines and Minerals Limited, was named, says: “We have two existing leases in the Ramgad area and they have been with us for the last 40 years. In response to a notice by the FSO in October 2009, we have responded that that our area should not be considered for conversion to reserve forest as we have existing leases there”.
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