DH News Service, Bangalore:

In a landmark judgement, the Karnataka High Court on Thursday ordered a total ban on mining activities in forest areas.

Hearing a petition by MSPL Ltd, a Hospet-based mining firm, questioning the mining lease issued by the state government to a private company on March 15, 2003, Justice Shylendra Kumar quashed the lease. The Court observed that the State had neglected the Forest Conservation Act 1983 and Karnataka Forest Act 1963 while issuing the notification, and suggested nationalisation of mining activities.