Bantwal: Karnataka govt bans mining activities around Karinja temple

Bantwal: Karnataka government issued an order banning all types of mining and crusher activities in areas within 2km radius around the revered Karinja Sri Karinjeshwar Temple in Bantwal.

The ban comes after sustained efforts by the Hindu Jagran Samiti, which petitioned the government to take appropriate action to permanently stop mining in the area and save the sanctity of the temple. The efforts were supported by Bantwal MLA Rajesh Naik Ulippadiguthu, who had called on the district in-charge minister Sunil Kumar to declare the area a mining ban zone.

Following the Chief Minister’s directive, a joint site inspection was conducted around the temple by the Mangaluru Assistant Commissioner and the Deputy Director of the Department of Mines and Geology.

Based on the inspection report, the DK Deputy Commissioner had sent a proposal to the government to declare the area surrounding the Karinja temple as a no-mining zone and impose a ban on mining activities in a 2 km perimeter around the temple.

In exercise of the powers contained in Rule 8(3) of the Karnataka Sub-Mineral Concession Rules, 1994, the Under Secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce has ordered that mining be prohibited with immediate effect.