MANDYA: The district taskforce on mining has cancelled 11 stone mining leases atop Babybetta for not complying with the requisite conditions including submitting no objection certificates from the environment department.
The taskforce has cancelled the leases of 11 stone quarries for not providing the no-objection certificates from the environment department. Among the cancelled leases, four units were ordered to shut down the crushing activities for violating the Karnataka Regulation of Stone Crusher Act, 2011 as this act stipulates that no crushing activities should be carried within 100 meters of district road.
The taskforce has also evolved a set of measures including forming squads and checkpoints to prevent illegal mining and transporting. The teams will comprise of officers from revenue, forest, panchayat raj, police and mines and geology departments. Total 11 check posts are to be established to prevent the transport of stone ore illegally. According to Padmaja, senior geologist, a total 12 private complaints were registered against the owners of illegal mining units. “Since April, 2021, a total of Rs 33.7 lakh fine was collected from 119 vehicle owners for carrying illegal ore,” she said.
