<p>Bengaluru: Faced with a delay in obtaining 1,000 acres of forest land in Sandur for its mining operations, the Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL) has prayed before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to drop the suo motu proceedings by stating that a case is already pending before the High Court of Karnataka.</p><p>The southern zone bench of the NGT had taken up the case based on a June 17, 2024, report by <em>DH</em> that 99,330 trees in Sandur were facing the axe due to the mining operations proposed by the KIOCL. The tribunal had issued notice, seeking details of the clearances given to the company and the environmental impact of the project.</p><p>In a detailed affidavit filed before the tribunal, the company sought to assuage the tribunal that the impact on environment is minimal. It stated that it has followed the procedure in obtaining statutory clearances for the project. It also furnished copies of the documents like public hearing, letters by state and Union government agencies providing clearances for the project.</p><p>“KIOCL proposes to utilise initially 127.63 hectares (315 acres) with gradual increase of production ranging from 0.65 million tonne to 2 million tonne per year with minimum usage of forest land in the initial five years of Mine Plan,” it said.</p>.Rising wildlife conflict in Karnataka hints at emerging crisis.<p>The company also said that the forest clearance issued by the Union government envisages a comprehensive study to be done by reputed institutes like IIT and IISc “to draw a co-management plan” for mining management on the one hand and forest, wildlife conservation on the other.</p><p>The company also gave details of over Rs 200 crore paid to the state government for forest and wildlife management.</p><p>“As per the Stage I FC compliance condition, Karnataka state Forest Department has identified 803.1522 ha (1,984.63 acres) degraded forest land in Ballari division towards compensatory afforestation land. KIOCL has already deposited Rs 194.35 crore to Karnataka CAMPA fund towards NPV, compensatory afforestation charges and other forest dues,” it said.</p><p>The flagship company under the Ministry of Steel further submitted that the high court was already seized of the matter in which the clearances given to the company have been challenged.</p><p>“The writ petition is still pending before the Hon’ble High Court of Karnataka. As the issue is pending before the High Court, the above original application may be closed,” it said.</p><p>Besides the two cases, the company is facing challenges at the government level. Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar B Khandre, who reviewed the project last year, had said his department would consider handing over the forest land only after the company paid Rs 1,349 crore along with 3,497.2 acres land for the violations.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: Faced with a delay in obtaining 1,000 acres of forest land in Sandur for its mining operations, the Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL) has prayed before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to drop the suo motu proceedings by stating that a case is already pending before the High Court of Karnataka.</p><p>The southern zone bench of the NGT had taken up the case based on a June 17, 2024, report by <em>DH</em> that 99,330 trees in Sandur were facing the axe due to the mining operations proposed by the KIOCL. The tribunal had issued notice, seeking details of the clearances given to the company and the environmental impact of the project.</p><p>In a detailed affidavit filed before the tribunal, the company sought to assuage the tribunal that the impact on environment is minimal. It stated that it has followed the procedure in obtaining statutory clearances for the project. It also furnished copies of the documents like public hearing, letters by state and Union government agencies providing clearances for the project.</p><p>“KIOCL proposes to utilise initially 127.63 hectares (315 acres) with gradual increase of production ranging from 0.65 million tonne to 2 million tonne per year with minimum usage of forest land in the initial five years of Mine Plan,” it said.</p>.Rising wildlife conflict in Karnataka hints at emerging crisis.<p>The company also said that the forest clearance issued by the Union government envisages a comprehensive study to be done by reputed institutes like IIT and IISc “to draw a co-management plan” for mining management on the one hand and forest, wildlife conservation on the other.</p><p>The company also gave details of over Rs 200 crore paid to the state government for forest and wildlife management.</p><p>“As per the Stage I FC compliance condition, Karnataka state Forest Department has identified 803.1522 ha (1,984.63 acres) degraded forest land in Ballari division towards compensatory afforestation land. KIOCL has already deposited Rs 194.35 crore to Karnataka CAMPA fund towards NPV, compensatory afforestation charges and other forest dues,” it said.</p><p>The flagship company under the Ministry of Steel further submitted that the high court was already seized of the matter in which the clearances given to the company have been challenged.</p><p>“The writ petition is still pending before the Hon’ble High Court of Karnataka. As the issue is pending before the High Court, the above original application may be closed,” it said.</p><p>Besides the two cases, the company is facing challenges at the government level. Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar B Khandre, who reviewed the project last year, had said his department would consider handing over the forest land only after the company paid Rs 1,349 crore along with 3,497.2 acres land for the violations.</p>