Hassan: These are centuries old gold mines that went silent a long time ago. But now the Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL) hopes to revive the defunct gold mining blocks of Kempinakote, Channarayapatna, and has even done a preliminary survey to pave the way for this.
Butthe local villagers who fear they may be evicted from thier homes to make way for the mining, are taking strong objection to its revival and the district administration appears to be on their side.
Going by an official, it could refuse permission to allow the mining in the area to protect their interests.
While the villagers have already staged a couple of protests, one villager, Rame Gowda of Kempinakote warns there could be more protests if the authorities make any move to evict the people from the village.
Sharing the villagers' concerns, Shravanabelagola MLA, Balakrishna points out that the project will not only affect the people of Kempinakote but also those living in 40 other nearby villages.
The villagers could have more support from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which is not sure how the mining will impact the giant statue of Bahubali in Shravanabelagola, just 6 kms away from the Kempinakote blocks and has decided to study this in detail before giving its okay to the project .
Active in the 18th century, the Kempinakote Gold Fields shut down operations later due to financial losses.
The MECL, which is now hoping to revive them, has submitted a preliminary survey report to the Union government on the possibility. But Mines and Geology department officials in Hassan explain the gold mining can resume only after the MECL's final report is cleared by Union government.
