KARNATAKA MINING ENVIRONMENT RESTORATION CORPORATION
Hon’ble Supreme Court, in its interim order on a case filed in connection with mining activities, had directed the State of Karnataka to draw a scheme viz. Comprehensive Environment Plan for Mining Impact Zone (CEPMIZ) as ameliorative and mitigative measure to be implemented in the districts of Ballari, Chitradurga and Tumkuru over a period of ten years.
Hon’ble Supreme Court had also ordered establishment of an organization as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to implement/oversee the execution of the CEPMIZ. Accordingly, the State Government, in its order dated 21.06.2014 had approved setting up of Karnataka Mining Environment Restoration Corporation (KMRC) as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). The Company was registered on 30.06.2014 as a non-profit organization under Sec 8 of the Companies Act 2013.
The objective of the Corporation is to draw and implement comprehensive plan for the socio-economic development of the mining impacted zone of Ballari, Chitradurga and Tumkur through various developmental schemes such as environmental restoration, agriculture and allied activities, irrigation, drinking water, sanitation and rural roads, health, education, development of vulnerable community, housing, skill development, and tourism.
Hon’ble Supreme Court, in its order dated 21.03.2018 had directed KMERC to submit a revised all-inclusive proposal on socio-economic development and eco-restoration incorporating suggestions made by Monitoring Committee and Federation of Indian Mining Industry, southern region. The Court had also ordered to submit proposal relating to road infrastructure to support mining activities and socio-economic development of the region; and to institute a detailed study relating to the railway backbone required to support sustainable mining activities through connecting all mineral bearing regions of the three districts.
Accordingly, KMERC had prepared an all-inclusive and comprehensive plan for the integrated development of the mining impacted region; covering various socio-economic and infrastructural development activities such as environmental restoration, agriculture and allied activities, irrigation, drinking water, sanitation and rural roads, health, education, development of vulnerable community, housing, skill development, and tourism.
With the approval of the State Government, the report was submitted to the Hon’ble Supreme Court during October 2018. Further, an updated study report relating to establishment of a railway backbone required to support the mining activities connecting all mineral bearing regions of the three districts was also submitted to the Hon’ble Supreme Court during October 2019 for approval.
The total estimated cost of the project is Rs. 24,996.71 Cr. and the project is proposed to be implemented over a period of ten years after the approval of the scheme by the Hon’ble Supreme Court.
The CEPMIZ Plan submitted by the State has been approved in-principle by the Hon'ble Supreme Court vide order dated 21.04.2022 and has appointed Justice Sudershan Reddy, retired Judge of the Apex Court, as Oversight Authority for approval of the individual projects and for supervision of its implementation.
The Oversight Authority has assumed the charge on 30.05.2022 and started functioning as per Hon'ble Supreme Court order dated 21.04.22.
