Farmers launch ‘Hug the Trees’ stir to save Devadari forests from mining

TO protect over 1,000 acres of forest land in Devadari Hills from mining activities, farmers from Narasingapura and Ranjithapura villages of Sandur taluk of Ballari district have been staging their own ‘Appiko Chaluvali’ (Hug the Trees) protest for the last one month.

- KIRAN BALANNANAVAR

The protest began after the state government granted Jand in the area to Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL) for mining activities earlier this year.

The villagers say the hill has already suffered extensive ecological damage due to decades of mining that has led to health issues, loss of forest cover and severe disruption of wildlife habitats.