S.R. HIremath, founder-president of Samaj Parivartan Samudaya, while taking strong exception to the proposals included in the Reclamation and Rehabilitation (R&R) Plan for areas affected by large-scale mining that have been prepared by the district administration, has said that a group of like-minded people has decided to form a new organisation in Ballari, Chitradurga and Tumakuru to ensure effective and proper utilisation of funds [₹ 13,000 crore] through the Karnataka Mining Environment Restoration Corporation (KMERC), a special purpose vehicle.
Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Mr. Hiremath ridiculed the inclusion of construction of samudaya bhavans in the R&R Plan.
The newly formed organisation, comprising members of the Jan Sangram Parishat, the Socialist Unity Centre of India, the All India Democratic Youth Organisation, supported by Samaj Parivartan Samudaya, was concerned about the steps needed to deal with the adverse effects of mining. It would work closely with the people in the areas affected by mining to ensure that the funds were properly utilised, he said.
In addition, a delegation would meet the Chairman and Managing Director of KMERC and the Deputy Commissioners of the three districts to urge them to utilise the funds properly for the purpose they were collected, he said. He also urged the KMERC and the Deputy Commissioners to utilise the funds only for the betterment of the mining- affected areas and not for others as some politicians were trying to get funds earmarked for their areas.
Mr. Hiremath also expressed grave concern over the State government permitting mining activities within a kilometre of the Centrally-protected ancient Sri Kumaraswamy and Sri Parvati temples on the Swami Malai range of hills in Sandur taluk and said that a letter had been written to the Central Empowered Committee seeking its support to ensure that mining activities are banned within a 2-km radius to protect the ancient temples and also the rich bio-diversity of the forest.
