Ballari is a district in the state of Karnataka known for its rich mineral resources especially iron-ore and is therefore also known as ‘The Iron City’. The 1993 National Mineral policy encouraged mining in the district which was pushed further by ‘Export Oriented Development’ proposed by the Karnataka State Mining Policy in 2000. By 2008, forest land was encroached and corruption in mining related activities became prevalent. Lokayukta of Karnataka published a report in December 2008 that cited violations such as underpayment of royalties to the state and mining in prohibited areas. It Illegal mining activities by unlicensed entities had become rampant.. The infamous Ballari mining scam came to light thereafter. The quality of air has deteriorated because of drilling, blasting and other mining related activities. Most of the surface water bodies are silted and contaminated by mining waste. The pollutants are so high in Narihalla stream that the water is not suitable for drinking or agriculture. The fertile lands have been turning red because of iron-ore silt causing soil pollution. A study commissioned by the Supreme Court recommended that the production of iron-ore needed to be reduced by 40% to prevent further environmental degradation in 2011. Habitat of animals like tigers, elephants, dholes and the great pied hornbill had been affected because of mining and granite quarrying. In 2022, massive protests took place at the Ballari district collector’s office to demand rehabilitation for the mine workers in the district who were rendered jobless upon the closure of illegal mines. The cost of rehabilitation was supposed to be raised from the fines paid by the owners of these illegal mines, something that was yet to happen. Along with that a march was also held from Sandur to Ballari covering 70 km, which garnered not only public attention but also political attention as their demands were finally heard. But until the problem is treated from the root, it will continue, which in this case is rampant mining with no regards to human life and nature.
India is already dealing with a climate emergency and as a developing nation is going to be severely affected by it. The Modi led NDA government’s failure to ensure better livelihood can clearly be seen by the action taken by their newly appointed Union Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries, H. D. Kumaraswamy of the JD(S), whose first task was to give a go-ahead to Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL) to mine iron and manganese ore in the Devadari forest in Ballari despite objections by the forest department. 99,000 trees were going to be cut spanning 992 acres of virgin forest which is home to 300 types of medicinal plants.
During such crucial times where heat waves have claimed over 100 lives this year and cities are running out of water, such a decision was taken for the ecologically sensitive region of Ballari’s Sandur. It shows that the NDA-Modi government and its cabinet’s interests lie in the commercialisation of limited natural resources at the expense of environment and living standards for its citizens.
This has been seen before with the Great Nicobar Island Development Project and allowing mining operations in Hasdeo forests in Chattisgarh, which is Adivasi homeland. Thankfully the decision was put to a halt by the Karnataka state government after public outcry. But there are chances this respite may not last long. This issue has become a political slugfest and whoever enjoys authority will continue to use their power to either stop or sanction the project. If the project had been allowed to commence it would have only worsened the ecology in Ballari and put more lives at risk. The locals of Ballari would have had to face serious health concerns because of the negative effects of the project. Ballari would have lost more of its green cover that needs greater protection in present times of climate crisis.
