Govt plans permanent ban on mining in Western Ghats

A decision to this effect was taken in a meeting of members of Western Ghats Task Force with Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Thursday.

Task Force Chairman Ananth Hegde Ashisar said imposing a ban on all sorts of mining activities in the Western Ghats was necessary to safeguard the flora and fauna of the region. The legal aspects of enacting a legislation to ban mining in the region is being looked into, he said.

Other issues discussed at the meeting include setting up of a research centre for the Western Ghats and a conservation fund for the protection of forests in the region.

Setting up a green wall in the plains of the State with the involvement of  1,000 grama  samithis and starting a campaign to conserve river sources in the Western Ghats was also discussed at the meeting.