A file photo of the Kappatagudda Wildlife Sanctuary in Gadag district
The proposals rejected by the standing committee of the board last week involved quarrying across nearly 3.2 hectares in Magadi and Parasapura villages of Gadag. The proposed sites, located 422-997 metres from the sanctuary boundary, fall within the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) notified by the Union environment ministry on June 4, 2025.
Forest minister Ramalinga Reddy told TOI that the ESZ notification prohibits all new and existing mining activities, including the extraction of minor and major minerals, stone quarrying and crushing units, within the notified zone, except for activities that meet bona fide domestic needs of local residents. All the proposed sites are explicitly included in the sanctuary’s ESZ notification, according to the forest department. The deputy commissioner and chairperson of the District Stone Crushers Licensing and Regulation Authority, Gadag, had also cancelled quarrying and crushing licences for activities falling within 1km of the sanctuary boundary.