Iron ore miners are contesting the levy of a forest development tax by the forest department in Karnataka, but the levy has been incredibly beneficial for the exchequer’s coffers.

Selling Karnataka’s forest produce like grass, amla, bark, lac, honey, silk cocoons and bamboo to industries attracts a 12 per cent forest development tax or FDT. Forest officials also levy the tax on the mining of iron ore from reserve forest areas, which happens in Bellary, Chitradurga and Tumkur districts of Karnataka.

Horticulture official shows the right way of cultivation

A BOUNTY:Organically-grown amla at a homestead garden in Palayamkotti.

TIRUNELVELI: A hybrid variety of Amla, NA-4 (Kanchan), planted in a homestead garden nine years ago, is continuously giving higher yield, thanks to organic farming techniques.

About 25 kg of fruits have been harvested in the second phase at an interval of just se