Karnataka government today decided to allow stone quarrying within 100 metres of forest land.
Briefing reporters after a Cabinet meeting, Law Minister T B Jayachandra said different interpretation of a 2006 government order by the Forest, and Mines and Geology Departments and certain provisions of the Karnataka Forest Act was sought to be resolved.
"The ban applies to grant of government land, and not stone quarrying", he stressed. "No question of buffer zone".
Because of the non-quarrying in such land, a large number of crushing units had shut down, he said. From around 3,000 such operating units, the number has come down to the region of 300-400.
A case is pending before the High Court and the government would convey its position to it accordingly.
According to officials, the stoppage of stone quarrying in such areas had hit road projects in the State.
