Gold, lithium found in Karnataka forests; mining awaits clearance
Bengaluru: Large quantities of gold and lithium have been discovered in forest areas of Koppal and Raichur districts, but mining activities have not begun as the locations fall under protected forest zones and require clearance. The state Mines and Geology Department has prepared a list of 65 locations where the study and exploration for gold and other rare earth minerals is happening.
“For the first time and in a rare case, we found 12-14 gm of gold per tonne in Amrapur block of Koppal district. Usually during studies and mining, it is around 2-3 gm of gold per tonne. At Hutti Gold Mines, it is around 2-2.5 gm. But the location in Koppal is in the virgin forest patch and we have applied for forest clearance,” department sources told The New Indian Express on Tuesday.
The study and exploration of rare and precious metals is allegedly done in four stages. The first two stages combine reconnaissance, pitting and fencing. The final two stages involve drilling up to 500 metres and preliminary mining. The first two stages have been completed in Koppal and Raichur.
According to the report, Lithium has also been traced in Amareshwara in Raichur making Karnataka only the second place in India where the metal has been found, after Jammu and Kashmir. “Here, too, the forest clearance has not been obtained. If allowed, Karnataka will be the first state to extract lithium,”
These findings and pending approvals were discussed at a joint meeting of state and central agencies in November 2025.
The lithium deposit was discovered in 2023 after detailed work. Large gold deposits were found in Amrapur in 2020, but work proceeded from 2024-25. No drilling work has been done so far in both locations. we are also worried about the safety of our ground staff. They are constantly threatened by those who want to illegally exploit the resource and those who want to stop the study, as reported by TNIE.
Forest department officials reportyedly confirmed, increasing pressure to approve mining inside protected land. Proposals have been coming for years and pressure is rising. Lithium is located in the Lingsugur reserve forest and gold in Amrapur forest in Kushtagi. These are virgin forest areas, and we cannot simply open them for mining. Forests are ecological wealth.
As per the report, the Mines and Geology Department is working with the Geological Survey of India in 57 sites and with private agencies in eight others. Minerals being studied include include platinum group of metals, bauxite, copper, cobalt, nickel, sillimanite, tungsten, vanadium, uranium, diamond, columbite-tantalite, manganese, chromite and rare earth elements including Kyanite and Xenotime in 6,73,660.39 hectares of land.
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“Full prepared..going to win,” Congress MP KC Venugopal ahead of Kerala polls
EC not functioning as a neutral institution: Venugopal
Congress MP K. C. Venugopal on Monday raised concerns over the election schedule announced by the Election Commission of India for the upcoming Kerala Assembly election, questioning the timing of the poll dates and alleging that the schedule leaves limited time for campaigning.
Speaking to news agency ANI in Delhi after the poll panel announced elections in five states and Union Territories, Venugopal said that the Congress and the United Democratic Front (UDF) are fully prepared for the elections and confident of victory. At the same time, he questioned the pattern of dates announced by the Election Commission.
“We are fully prepared, we are going to win the elections... You can see how the Election Commission has set the dates. The first phase of elections is on the 9th, nominations are due until the 23rd, scrutiny is on the 24th, nominations can be withdrawn until the 26th, and after that, there are 11 days for campaigning,” he said.
“As for Kerala, there is Easter and Good Friday in the first week...The Election Commission could have announced the dates earlier... The counting date is on May 4th, so what was the point of holding elections in Kerala so early? What is their intention behind holding elections on the same day in Kerala, Puducherry, and Assam?... We are confident that we will win, but the people of the country are seeing the biased attitude of the Election Commission...,” he added.
He further stated that his party was ready for elections irrespective of the dates announced by the poll body.
“We are going to win the election. India's strategy has been set up. And we are all ready for winning this election. But one thing as far as declaring election, even though they are giving only for five days, we are going to win the election. We have no problem,” he said.
Detailing the poll schedule while questioning the time available for campaigning, he stated, “but you can see the pattern of date which the election commission announced. Yesterday they declared election, and today they notified us. The first phase of election on April 9th, filing of nomination will be over on the 23rd of this month, 24th scrutiny, 26th withdrawal of nomination. After 26, four plus seven, 11 days campaign.”
“As far as Kerala is concerned, April first week is a holy week. The holiday week means, Good Friday is there. Nobody will do anything on Good Friday. Easter is the big festival. These festivals are natural, you have to see that. Among the 11 days, working days, two, three days will go for holidays. Then hardly seven, eight days for campaigning in this election for candidates,” the Congress MP questioned.
The Congress leader said the Election Commission could have announced the dates earlier if there was a need for an early election schedule.
Questioning the urgency behind placing Kerala in the first phase of polling, he added that the counting date is much later.
“Which is the date of counting? Fourth May. Then what is the urgency of putting Kerala in the first phase without giving sufficient time for candidates? And putting Kerala, Puducherry, Assam together, what is the intention behind that?” Venugopal questioned.
He also alleged that the Election Commission was not functioning as a neutral institution.
“The Election commission is completely losing that capacity as a neutral player. You can see 14 of our prime minister's programs over and on the 15th they announce the election, 16th notification comes,” he said.
Venugopal further stated that such tactics would not affect the Congress’ prospects in the election.
“They think that this type of techniques and tactics, because of these techniques and tactics, UDF is going to lose, and Congress is going to lose. This is their complete dream only. This is not going to happen. We are very much confident at any cost, whether they are not giving any time also, we are going to win the election,” he said.
“But the people of India are watching this. The tricks of the election commission. To restrict the campaign, people of India are watching. This I want to bring into the notice of the nation. That's all,” Venugopal said.
The Election Commission of India on Sunday announced the schedule for the Kerala Assembly election. Polling in the state will be held in a single phase on April 9 while the counting of votes is scheduled to take place on May 4.
