Mining project in Tumakuru district

Mining project in Tumakuru district

News –

• The regional office of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Bengaluru, has rejected a proposal for diversion of 48.2 ha of forestland for a mining project in Tumakuru district.
• The inspection pertained to a proposal seeking clearance for the Sarangapani Iron and Manganese Ore Mine Project.
• The mining project is in Thirtharamapura Reserve Forest and is spread across Gollarahalli, Hosahalli, Kodihalli, Tonalapura, and Lakmenahalli villages in Chikkanayakanahalli taluk of Tumakuru district.
• The rejection stems from the fact that commercial mining is a prohibited activity within the deemed Eco-Sensitive Zone of Bukkapatna Wildlife Sanctuary.

Additional Information – Bukkapatna Chinkara Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location – It is located in the Sira Taluk of the Tumakuru district in Karnataka.
• It is a protected area, notified in 2019,
• Objective – to conserve the Indian gazelle (Chinkara) and other dryland biodiversity.

Flora and Fauna

• The sanctuary is a wooded savannah ecosystem, featuring extensive grasslands and sparsely distributed native tree species.
• Key Fauna: The sanctuary is primarily known for its chinkaras, and also features blackbucks, four-horned antelopes, leopards, sloth bears, hyenas, and wild boars. More than 160 bird species have also been recorded.
• Key Flora: Notable tree species include Hardwickia binata (Anjan), Phyllanthus emblica (Amla), and Tamarindus indica (Imli).