The State Cabinet on Thursday allowed stone quarrying within 100 metres of forest borders.

Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Law Minister T B Jayachandra said different interpretations of Section 42(2) of the Karnataka Forest Act made the Mines and Geology department issue circulars banning stone quarrying within 100 metres of forest borders. A large number of crushing units had consequently shut shop, resulting in a severe shortage of jelly stones, he said.

The State government seems to be keen on relaxing the norms to allow stone quarrying within 100 meters of forest areas across the State.

Most of the municipal councils in the border belt are functioning without a sewage treatment plant

When things get bad, they really do. This, in essence, sums up the pollution scenario in the border district of Gurdaspur where two lifelines, Ravi and Beas, are being choked by stone crushers. Officially, Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) officials may paint a rosy picture and claim the rivers are pollution-free.

Home department goes slow in Kanakapura case

The Ramanagara division of the Forest department has booked 143 cases of illegal stone quarrying. D K Suresh, Bangalore Rural MP, is among those against whom charge sheets have been filed.

Mystery shrouds contamination of the abandoned stone quarry at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate with the authorities unable to identify the source and the units responsible for discharging untreated

House Committee for Environment conducted an extensive tour of Langate, Handwara, Nowgam Reshwari and interacted with district and teshil administration about impact of the existing stone crushers

Even as authorities in Meghalaya are in the dark about the presence of illegal stone quarries in the State, neighbouring Assam has decided to do its bit to restrict the unlawful trade.