Bangalore, July 22: The UK based Environmental Investigation Agency, involved in the international campaign to save the tiger, has written to the chief minister, Mr. S.M Krishna urging him to reject Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited's application to renew its mining lease in Kudremukh National Park.
According to tiger campaigner Peter Richardson, mining in the park will result in the destruction of an internationally recognised biodiversity hotspot.
In his letter dated July 21, Mr. Richardson, on behalf of tiger campaigners in the UK and around the world has said the implementation of the Centre's directive to renew KIOCL's existing lease will be in direct violation of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. "The renewal of the license will result in widespread destruction of the Kudremukh National Park, which is an integral part of the Western Ghats, and an internationally recognised biodiversity hotspot," Mr.Richardson said.
The agency has also pointed out that the mining of poor quality iron ore from Kudremukh has resulted in the exploitation of a greater surface area of forest land and destroyed vast tracts of "Shola" forests.
Inefficient management of the effluent pipes from the mines, and insufficient monitoring and management of effluents has resulted in significant pollution of the Yennehole, Bhadra, Tunga and Tungabhadra rivers, the agency added.
Copies of the letter have also been forwarded to the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee and to the Union minister for environment and forests T.R. Baalu.