Bukkapatna chinkara sanctuary may lose glitter amid gold prospecting by private firm

Bengaluru: Barely five years after it was notified, Bukkapatna chinkara wildlife sanctuary seems set to face the first challenge to its existence with a company now seeking to look for gold in nearly 1,195 acres of the green patches in Bukkapatna state forest and Kurihallada kaval.

The Bukkapatna sanctuary is spread over 148.45 sq km (36,682.79 acres) of forests in Chikkanayakanahalli taluk of Tumakuru. It was notified in 2019 as an effort to protect the chinkaras’ habitat in the south.

Besides chinkaras, the sanctuary is home to two other species of antelopes: black bucks and four-horned antelopes.

Documents show that Bengaluru-based Oro Geo Exploration India Private Limited has sought to explore gold in the Thimmanahalli gold block spread over 4,942 acres, including 1,195.17 acres in the south eastern part of Bukkapatna state forest. The company has sought permission to drill 50 boreholes to prospect for gold, after emerging as the successful bidder in the tender issued by the Mines and Geology Department in March 2023. The company has received a composite licence from the department.

“All pits and trenches will be closed properly and boreholes will be plugged using concrete. The entire land will be brought back to its original setting (as much as possible) after exploration operations,” the company said in the submission made to the forest department.

Besides the antelopes and leopards, the forests of Chikkanayakanahalli taluk are home to a wide range of fauna like sloth bears, hyenas, jackals and wild boars.  In July, officials recovered 300 acres of forest belonging to Bukkapatna sanctuary, following a direction by the Lokayukta.

The department recently came under fire for approving the reopening of Sarangapani mine, including mining in 119 acre of forest land as proposed by the Mineral Enterprises Private Limited. The forest department rationalised that the mining lease boundary was located outside the eco-sensitive zone of the sanctuary, which varies from 1 to 3.8 km.

A conservationist said largescale mining operations will lead to permanent degradation of the area. “No amount of barriers can prevent the pollution from the mining and allied activities. The sanctuary cannot be the price to pay for the gold,” he added.