Govt Revives NMDC Mining Bid in Ballari's Swamimalai Forest

05 Sep 2025 CW Team

The National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) had originally sought 392.92 acres of forest land, home to over 26,000 trees and species such as leopards, sloth bears, four-horned antelopes, jackals, Indian wolves, foxes, and wild boars. The site lies within 1 km of the ancient temple complex.

In 2019, based on reports from senior forest officials, then Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Punati Sridhar had flagged the proposal, advising against even seeking stage-1 (in-principle) clearance from the central government. However, NMDC revised its application in 2024, reducing the land request to 250.86 acres, while reserving rights over the remaining area.

The company has assured that tree felling will occur in phases, only after obtaining necessary permissions and aligned with mining requirements. In line with government directions, the Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF), Ballari, has asked NMDC to update its proposal and include details for compensatory afforestation.

The move has drawn criticism from environmentalists. In a similar instance, the government also overruled objections to divert 992 acres of forest for mining by Kudremukh Iron Ore Mining Company Ltd, a case that is now under suo motu review by the National Green Tribunal.

Sreeshaila Aladahalli, a Sandur-based activist, called the NMDC development “yet another betrayal.” He highlighted that while global policies focus on intergenerational justice, Karnataka appears intent on revisiting projects previously abandoned due to their potential ecological impact. The Karnataka Mining Environment Restoration Corporation (KMERC) had recommended reducing annual mineral production from 50 million tonnes to 20 million tonnes, yet mining clearances continue to advance.

When approached for comment, Ballari DCF Basavaraj K N confirmed that no final decision had been made. “We are following the government’s directive to examine the revised proposal. The matter is still under process,” he said.

Nearly five years after rejecting a mining proposal in the ecologically sensitive Swamimalai forests near the historic Kumaraswamy-Parvati temple in Ballari’s Sandur region, the Karnataka government has revived the case, instructing officials to begin procedures for fresh forest clearance.The National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) had originally sought 392.92 acres of forest land, home to over 26,000 trees and species such as leopards, sloth bears, four-horned antelopes, jackals, Indian wolves, foxes, and wild boars. The site lies within 1 km of the ancient temple complex.In 2019, based on reports from senior forest officials, then Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Punati Sridhar had flagged the proposal, advising against even seeking stage-1 (in-principle) clearance from the central government. However, NMDC revised its application in 2024, reducing the land request to 250.86 acres, while reserving rights over the remaining area.The company has assured that tree felling will occur in phases, only after obtaining necessary permissions and aligned with mining requirements. In line with government directions, the Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF), Ballari, has asked NMDC to update its proposal and include details for compensatory afforestation.The move has drawn criticism from environmentalists. In a similar instance, the government also overruled objections to divert 992 acres of forest for mining by Kudremukh Iron Ore Mining Company Ltd, a case that is now under suo motu review by the National Green Tribunal.Sreeshaila Aladahalli, a Sandur-based activist, called the NMDC development “yet another betrayal.” He highlighted that while global policies focus on intergenerational justice, Karnataka appears intent on revisiting projects previously abandoned due to their potential ecological impact. The Karnataka Mining Environment Restoration Corporation (KMERC) had recommended reducing annual mineral production from 50 million tonnes to 20 million tonnes, yet mining clearances continue to advance.When approached for comment, Ballari DCF Basavaraj K N confirmed that no final decision had been made. “We are following the government’s directive to examine the revised proposal. The matter is still under process,” he said.

Infrastructure Urban

05 Nov 2025

TBO Tek Q2 Profit Climbs 12%, Revenue Surges 26% YoY

TBO Tek Limited one of the world’s largest travel distribution platforms, reported a solid performance for Q2 FY26 with a 26 per cent year-on-year increase in revenue to Rs 5.68 billion, reflecting broad-based growth and improving profitability.The company recorded a Gross Transaction Value (GTV) of Rs 8,901 crore, up 12 per cent YoY, driven by strong performance across Europe, MEA, and APAC regions. Adjusted EBITDA before acquisition-related costs stood at Rs 1.04 billion, up 16 per cent YoY, translating into an 18.32 per cent margin compared to 16.56 per cent in Q1 FY26. Profit after tax r..

Infrastructure Energy

05 Nov 2025

Northern Graphite, Rain Carbon Secure R&D Grant for Greener Battery Materials

Northern Graphite Corporation and Rain Carbon Canada Inc, a subsidiary of Rain Carbon Inc, have jointly received up to C$860,000 (€530,000) in funding under the Canada–Germany Collaborative Industrial Research and Development Programme to develop sustainable battery anode materials.The two-year, C$2.2 million project aims to transform natural graphite processing by-products into high-performance, battery-grade anode material (BAM). Supported by the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Programme (NRC IRAP) and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs a..

Infrastructure Urban

05 Nov 2025

Antony Waste Q2 Revenue Jumps 16%; Subsidiary Wins Rs 3,200 Cr WtE Projects

Antony Waste Handling Cell Limited (AWHCL), a leading player in India’s municipal solid waste management sector, announced a 16 per cent year-on-year increase in total operating revenue to Rs 2.33 billion for Q2 FY26. The growth was driven by higher waste volumes, escalated contracts, and strong operational execution.EBITDA rose 18 per cent to Rs 570 million, with margins steady at 21.6 per cent, while profit after tax stood at Rs 173 million, up 13 per cent YoY. Revenue from Municipal Solid Waste Collection and Transportation (MSW C&T) reached Rs 1.605 billion, and MSW Processing re..