CMAR to focus on rehabilitation of land damaged in mining

In a bid to reclaim land damaged by mining, the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Dehra Dun, has set up the Centre for Mining Area Rehabilitation (CMAR) on the premises of the Institute of Wood Science and Technology (IWST), Bangalore.

The institute, which currently comprises four scientists would be headed by an IFS officer. The scientists at the centre would focus on recovery of forest land damaged by reckless mining.

According to Dr V K Bahuguna, director general of ICFRE, the institute which started functioning in October 2011 had come up with a model plan for mining in the state. He added the plan would be submitted to the Central Empowered Committee (CEC).

The model, aimed at ensuring sustainable development in the Karnataka, would be submitted along with the report on mining in Chitradurga, Tumkur and Bellary.

He denied reports that ICFRE had suggested open cast mining in western ghats, clarifying that it had only suggested a feasibility study on underground mining. Citing Stockholm as an example he said the capital of Sweden, stood on an underground mine.

Bahuguna added that as steel was necessary for the development of the country, the ICFRE had suggested conducting a feasibility study in the western ghats, that held rich reserves of iron ore.