Heritage monuments at God's mercy as mining resumes

Activists fear damage to 8th century Parvati, Kumaraswamy temples in Sandur

Mining has been going on rampantly in Sandur taluk in the district, despite an apex court order to ban mining in the core zone of historical monuments.

 The National Mineral Development Corporation, owned by the Central government, and the Sandur Manganese and Iron Ores Limited - both ‘A’ category companies - have been undertaking mining activities in Sandur taluk, at just a stone’s throw away from the protected monuments of Kumaraswamy and Parvati temples.

Members of the Janasangrama Parishat (JSP) have said that the mining activities were a violation of the Supreme Court order and have demanded that they be suspended at the earliest.

Superintending officers of the Bengaluru circle of the Archaeological Survey of India wrote to the State department of mines and geology on February 25, 2005, over banning mining activities in the protected areas around the monuments. But no action has been taken so far.

The Kumaraswamy and Parvati temples were built in the eighth century by the Chalukyas of Badami and have highly intricate carvings.

More danger awaits these monuments as the government is slated to auction ‘C’ category mines in the area. Earlier, ‘C’ category companies like Karthikeya Manganese and Hothur Traders were undertaking mining in the areas around the protected monuments.

Their mining contracts were cancelled following a recommendation by the Centrally Empowered Committee (CEC) of the Supreme Court. The JSP has written to M K Jeevarajka, member secretary of the CEC, in this regard. 

Shivakumar Malagi of the JSP says no fresh permits should be issued for mining activities in protected areas around monuments.

K A Mahaveera, deputy director of the department of mines and geology, says there are no orders as of now to suspend mining in the protected areas around the Kumaraswamy and Parvati temples. The issue was at the government level and his department could not do anything, the officer said.