Members of the Sri Kumaraswamy and Parvati Temples Protection Committee, in association with the district unit of Jan Sangram Parishat (JSP), have expressed concern over the State government permitting mining operations close to the ancient temples in Swami Malai range in Sandur taluk of the distirct.
“What has pained us is that the permission was granted within a week of H.D. Kumaraswamy taking over as the Chief Minister. Before the Assembly election, Mr. Kumaraswamy, during a visit to the Sri Kumaraswamy temple, blamed the Congress government for not taking steps to protect the temple. Besides, expressing support to the ongoing movement, he had also said if he came to power, he would ban mining around the ancient temples,” Srishail Aldahalli, secretary of JSP said while talking to The Hindu .
The mining lease was allotted to JSW Steels through e-auction.
The Department of Mines and Geology, while imposing certain conditions, has mentioned that mining within one km of the ancient Kumaraswamy temple was prohibited, until the submission of the report by the Expert Committee and directions of the Supreme Court.
“If mining is allowed close to the temples, the monuments would be affected and so too the flora, fauna and the biodiversity of the forest,” Mr. Srishail said. He insisted that the government should order ban on mining activities in the Kumaraswamy hill range and declare it as a ‘national heritage zone’.
Mr. Srishail also expressed concern over the inordinate delay on the part of the expert committee in submitting its report on the impact of mining on the ancient monuments. He said that the movement would be continued till the goal is achieved by resorting to street and legal battle.
