A Bengaluru-based company has approached the Central Government for permission to begin drilling operations in Chikkamagaluru district, following the discovery of what it claims are significant gold deposits across a vast 10,000-acre area. The discovery, if confirmed, could mark a new chapter in India’s gold mining sector, but it has already sparked concerns from environmentalists and wildlife conservationists.
The company, identified as Aurum Geo Exploration Private Limited, has been granted a composite license by the Department of Mines and Geology to prospect for gold in a 10,082-acre block in the Tarikere region of Chikkamagaluru. According to the company’s letter to the Centre, their initial surveys indicate the presence of gold deposits with a high yield, ranging from 19 to 80 grams per tonne in some areas. This is considered a highly valuable concentration.
The proposed exploration area, however, presents a significant challenge as it includes 5,600 acres of forest land and 3,600 acres of agricultural land. The forested area is part of the Western Ghats and is a critical wildlife habitat, serving as a corridor for animals like elephants and Indian gaur, and home to leopards and sloth bears.
Conservationists and local officials have expressed serious apprehension about the potential impact of the drilling on the fragile ecosystem. They argue that the movement of heavy machinery and the drilling process itself will cause irreparable damage to the wildlife and their habitats. “These hills are a critical wildlife habitat, acting as a buffer to the Western Ghats,” a forest official told Deccan Herald, raising concerns about the disturbance to animals that traverse these lands at night.
In its application, the company has assured authorities that it will take measures to minimize pollution, properly close all pits and trenches, and plug boreholes with concrete to restore the land to its original state. However, environmental experts remain skeptical, emphasizing that even the preliminary exploration work could have a lasting impact on the biodiversity of the region.
The current license is for prospecting only, and a full-scale mining operation would require a separate, much more rigorous set of environmental and operational clearances. The Forest Department is now reviewing the company’s request, and its decision will be a crucial step in determining the future of the proposed gold exploration in Chikkamagaluru.
The discovery comes at a time when India is actively seeking to boost its domestic gold production to reduce reliance on imports. Karnataka is already a major player, with the Hutti Gold Mines in Raichur being one of the oldest operational gold mines in the world. The state has also recently seen new exploration projects approved in other districts like Koppal and Haveri, and even a revival of the historic Kolar Gold Fields (KGF). The Chikkamagaluru discovery could add another significant chapter to this ongoing effort.
