JOIN USSrinivasa said the report on impact of mining on environment by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) is factually incorrect and the State had taken objection to many aspects of the report.
The report says there was massive de-gradation of forest due to illegal mining in Bellary, Chitradurga and Tumkur. But the fact was there never existed a dense forest anywhere in Bellary district and the forest cover in Chitradurga has increased over the period, he said.
Water matters
The report also says illegal mining has resulted in severe depletion and pollution of ground water. But the fact was there had been no change in quality of ground water anywhere in these districts, let alone depletion.
“Certain aspects of the report are blown out of proportion and the government has taken exception to them,” he added.