After many reports of illegal quarrying inside the buffer zone of Bengaluru’s Bannerghatta National Park in the last one week, the Karnataka Lokayukta has asked the authorities to conduct a joint survey.

Lokayukta Justice P Vishwanath Shetty has initiated a suo-motu proceeding on the issue, Deccan Herald has reported.

Bengaluru Rural Superintendent of Police has subsequently submitted a report that doesn’t mention any illegal work being done in the buffer zone. The report was presented after spot inspections being carried out in Sarjapur, Surya Nagar, Bannerghatta, Attibele and Jigani.

“The High Court of Karnataka’s order passed on 15 November 2018, was submitted. In the light of the notification of the Government of India on 30 October 2018, there is no violation with regard to extraction of minor minerals.”

“Whether the regulations of the Karnataka Mineral Concession Rules or guidelines of Government of India are violated or not is a matter required to be examined by the authorities; they are required to examine whether necessary permission has been obtained from the National Board of Wildlife and other authorities concerned before obtaining the licence,” Justice Shetty remarked.

Furthermore, the Joint Director of Land Records has informed that a survey will be carried out on 12 December. The representatives who have been asked to be present during the joint survey include a senior official of the National Park, the Anekal Tahsildar, a geologist from the Department of Mines and Geology. A fresh report will be submitted within eight weeks.