Karnataka high court seeks status report on ‘illegal mining’ near Mangaluru Airport

Bengaluru: Following a PIL filed against illegal mining in Kolambe village, close to the Mangaluru Airport, the Karnataka High Court on Monday directed the state government to file a status report within two weeks.

The court was hearing a petition filed by the Kaudur Sri Kalabhairaveshwara Kallina Kore Virodhi Hitarakshana Samithi.

The PIL stated that illegal quarrying has been going on for the last several years. “During September 2015, two leases were granted. In the first lease, an extent of 2 acres has been granted in survey 245/ 2P2 of Kolambe village and another one acre in survey 248/5 of the said village. It is also alleged that the area has been declared as a safer zone for establishing stone crushing units through a government notification,” it states.

The petitioner stated that mining is now being carried outside the leased areas. Stones exhausted in the leased areas long back and explosives are being used in new areas, close to the airport.