The State government’s decision to handover revenue land at Kudremukh, once known for mining activity, to the Forest Department and relocate the families has upset the residents of villages in Samse Gram Panchayat in Mudigere taluk. The gram panchayat adopted a resolution opposing the government’s move on July 26.
The gram panchayat has convened a Gram Sabha on August 14 to discuss the issue. Suresh Bhat, secretary of the Kudremukh Mulanivasigala Hitarakshana Vedike, told on Wednesday that the government issued a notification in September 2017 for transferring 1,657 acres of revenue land to the Forest Department as an alternative to the forest land acquired for the Hubballi–Ankola railway line project. “Since the day the mining operations of Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd. closed down, we have been demanding that the government utilise the existing infrastructure for the benefit of local people. Despite our opposition, the government has decided to transfer the land. We will protest the move,” he said.
Kudremukh Township, which once had a population of 12,000, came to a halt when mining operations were closed down in 2005. Since then the residents of villages around Kudremukh started losing many facilities, including banks, post office, and hospital.