Panels report on mining to SC

BANGALORE:  After two days of intense field survey at the mining sites at Bellary, Chitradurga and Tumkur districts, the ten-member team headed by Dr VK Bahuguna, Director General, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), will be submitting  the model rehabilitation and reclamation plan to   the  Supreme Court by January 20.Addressing media persons on Saturday, Dr Bahuguna said, “Based on the scientific facts of whatever damage has been done, the scientists have analysed the slopes, engineering structure and the extent of green cover loss due to mining, and how all these can be rehabilitated.” “In addition, we have also made a study of how sustainable scientific mining can be practised in the area. However, the practice has to be monitored by a reputed institute all throughout, as we have found that the mine owners do not have expertise in the particular field,” he added.Bahuguna said, “Taking the instances of underground mining in Sweden, we have just suggested a feasible study.”