The government of the southern state of Karnataka has halted government-run pellet producer KIOCL Limited’s plans for exploration of iron and manganese ore and drilling six boreholes in Haddinapade iron ore block in forests of the Sandur district, government sources said on Thursday, December 5.
Over the last six months, KIOCL Limited has submitted three proposals to drill boreholes in the virgin forest, identified by the Mines and Geology Department as 'Haddinapade Iron Ore Block'.
The proposal in January 2024 sought to drill 81 boreholes to explore the ore. After questions by the state forest department, the company scaled down the proposal to nine boreholes in the second proposal. The number of boreholes was finally reduced to six.
The deputy conservator of forests, Ballari division, inspected the area and found that the forest block was "virgin/primary" in nature. "The forest area proposed for exploration falls in the Swamimalai Forest Block of Sandur south range in Sandur Taluk, Bellari, is rich in biodiversity, medicinal plants and hosts an array of wild flora and fauna and hence the project has been rejected,” the official said.