By Our Special Correspondent SHIMOGA JAN. 2. The Vruksha Laksha Andolana (VLA), an environmental organisation of the Malnad region, has opposed the State Government's decision to allow mining in the Western Ghats and termed it as "self-destructive". Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, the Convenor of VLA, Ananth Hegde Ashishar, said it was ironical that the Government had taken a decision on such a delicate issue at a time when Parliament approved a Bill for the Biodiversity Conservation Act. He urged the Government not to allow mining in the Western Ghats by public or private sectors. The environmental organisations would launch a sustained agitation if the Government went ahead with its decision. Referring to the agitation by environmental groups against mining in the Beesagodu Kali Forest near Yellapur in Uttara Kannada District in 1995, Mr. Hegde said similar protests were launched in five districts during 1997-98 when the Government decided to permit mining in Western Ghats. Leaders of various political parties and organisations had expressed support to the protest programmes. Subsequently, a meeting of the ministers concerned, legislators, and representatives of environmental groups at the Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore decided that mining should not be allowed in the Western Ghats. Stating that the Sharavathy, the Kali, the Varahi, the Cauvery, the Tungabhadra, the Bedthi, and the Aghanashini, which originated in the Western Ghats, would be affected if mining was allowed, he said it would also damage the fragile eco-system of the region. Mr. Hegde said the VLA would take a decision on launching an agitation after the Government came out with specific details about allowing mining in the Western Ghats. He said it was unfortunate that the Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Kagodu Thimmappa, who associated himself with the anti-mining campaign launched in Sagar taluk in the Eighties, becoming a party to the decision to allow mining in the Western Ghats. Expressing concern over what he described as destruction of the forest at Choradi in the Sagar Forest Division for the last four months, Mr. Hegde alleged that the forest officials did not take any action despite complaints made to them. The Forest Department, which did not conduct a joint survey of the forest land, should furnish details regarding the steps taken to check timber smuggling in the region. He said the forest officials should take the village forest committees into confidence and encourage them to involve in conservation of forests. He termed the cancellation of a minor irrigation project proposed at Kollibachalu in Shimoga District as victory to his organisation, which had launched an agitation against it. Mr. Hegde said the VLA had submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner opposing the manner in which the Jog Development Authority (JDA) had been sanctioning certain projects in the name of tourism. The authority should not allow any activity that posed a threat to biodiversity in the Sharavathy Valley. He pointed out that there was no representation to any environmental organisation in the Managing Committee of the authority. He demanded that the authority make its proposals for promotion of tourism in and around the Jog Falls public. The proposed move to divert major rivers in the Western Ghats as part of the national programme to link rivers would affect the ecosystem of the region. On the Supreme Court order to clear forest encroachments, Mr. Hegde said such a decision was inevitable to protect the forests. He, however, said that the Government should strike a balance between social justice and the environment. я