Bangalore, July 22: Environment Protection Agency's Tiger Campaigner Peter Richardson of UK urged Chief Minister S. M. Krishna to reject the application for renewal of mining lease of Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd. (KIOCL) at Kudremukh National Park. A copy of the letter was released to the Press here.
Supporting the Environment Support Group's campaign against the renewal of the mining lease to KIOCL, he criticised the Prime Minister's office interference favouring extension of KIOCL's mining lease calling it a direct violation of India's Wildlife (Protection) Act. The decision would result in widespread destruction of the forests of Kudremukh National Park, an integral element of Western Ghats, an internationally recognised 'biodiversity hotspot'. The State should not renew the lease considering the threats from mining to Kudremukh National Park and the neighbouring Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary (a Project Tiger Reserve). - ENS