Karnataka HC bans mining activity near KRS reservoir
- The High Court of Karnataka has banned all types of mining and quarrying activities within a 20-km radius of the historic Krishnarajasagar (KRS) dam in Mandya district.
Key points
- The ban will apply even for those mining activities within a 20-km radius for which permissions/licences were already granted by the authorities
- Or already operating in the area, or were permitted on the orders of the court in earlier rounds of litigation, the High Court said.
- The court also said that the ban will be in force till the completion of a study by experts and the decision to be taken by the State committee on dam safety
- Set up as per the provisions of the Dam Safety Act, 2021.
Dam Safety Act, 2021
- The Act provides for the surveillance, inspection, operation, and maintenance of all specified dams across the country.
- These are dams with height more than 15 metres, or height between 10 m -15 m with certain design and structural conditions.
- Institutional Mechanism
- The National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS)
- The National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA)
- State Dam Safety Organisations
- The State Committee on Dam Safety
Prelims Takeaway
- Dam Safety Act, 2021
- The National Dam Safety Authority