Dist administration recommends state govt to ban mining around Karinjeshwar

Bantwal: The Dakshina Kannada district administration has recommended the state government to declare areas up to a 2 km radius around the Sri Karinjeshwar Temple here as a “no-mining zone” in order to respond to the sentiments of the locals along with the sanctity and conservation of the religious site.

As directed by the Chief Minister, the Mangaluru Assistant Commissioner and Deputy Director of Mines and Geoscience Department held a joint site inspection conducted on January 12 to study the proposal for a mining ban.

Based on this inspection report, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Ravikumar M R has submitted a proposal to the secretary  (Mining and MSME) of the state’s Commerce and Industry Department and the Director of Mines and Earth Sciences Department regarding the ban on mining.

The state government will have to take the final decision on whether mining will be banned or not.

Meanwhile, the locals of the area along with Bantwal Hindu Jagran Vedike organizer Thirulesh Bellur had not only appealed to the Chief Minister to take appropriate action to stop the mining in the Karinja surroundings permanently.