MYSURU | Nov 03, 2015:
The Eco-Sensitive Zone regulations prohibit mining, quarrying and other activities inimical to wildlife. Photo: M.A. Sriram
There are growing concerns over attempts by the granite and quarrying lobby to secure permission for mining in villages within the Malai Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) boundary, and pressure being brought on the government to relent.
The granite and quarrying lobby is trying hard to get villages like Ponnachi, Hoogyam, Meenium — once core areas of operation of forest brigand Veerappan — and a few other villages removed from the ambit of the draft eco-sensitive zone for MM Hills. “Though the Forest Department has remained steadfast in its refusal to open up the villages, the pressure is intense, and they are influencing political leaders,” said an official of the Forest Department well-versed with developments in the region.
The ESZ for MM Hills is yet to be notified, but there is a standing order by the Ministry of Environment and Forests that makes it clear that for national parks and wildlife sanctuaries where the ESZ was not notified or a proposal for the same was yet to be submitted, a default area of 10 km from the forest boundary will be deemed to be the ESZ, and all regulations will be in force.
Consequent to the MM Hills being declared a wildlife sanctuary in May 2013, the ESZ regulations — which prohibits mining, quarrying and other activities inimical to wildlife — has automatically come into play. This is resented by the mining lobby, said the official.
Chamarajanagar district has two wildlife zones that the mining lobby is eyeing. This includes the Biligiri Ranganthaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary and the MM Hills Sanctuary. Both are the home of elephants, tigers, leopards and other species, which came to light during a camera-trap exercise conducted by the Forest Department and field biologists as part of a long-term study in the region.
Ironically, MM Hills and surrounding areas had experienced calmer times, during Veerappan’s time as the fear of the bandit had led to temporary cessation of all activities.
(Source: http://www.thehindu.com/)