HC orders issuance of emergency notice to K'taka Govt

Bangalore, Oct 25 (UNI) The Karnataka High Court today ordered issuance of emergency notices to the State Government and other respondents, including one Balram Vittal Sambrekar, a licencee for mining manganese ore at Gawali village in Khanapur taluk of Belgaum district.

Admitting a public interest litigation filed by city-based Advocate N S Vijayanth Babu, Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph and Mr Justice Mohanshantan Gouda issued the notices.

Mr Babu contended that the mining activities of Mr Sambrekar was causing a lot of nuisance in the area and endangering the Wroughton free-tailed bat living in Barapede cave near the mining area. The cave was a natural habitat of the endangered species, protected under section 35 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act.

The Belgaum forest department authorities had written to the Director of Mines and Geology to take steps for cancellation of the license as the mining area was close to the cave, which fell under the proposed Sahyadri biosphere area, he submitted, seeking for a direction to the State Government to cancel the licence and take steps for conserving the bats.

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