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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Mallikarjun Kharge accuses BJP of misleading house on Vande Mataram, defending Nehru
New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday accused BJP leaders of misleading the Rajya Sabha over facts related to Vande Mataram. He asserted that the Congress requires no lessons from the ruling party on nationalism, patriotism, or the national song.
Kharge alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have repeatedly disrespected former Congress leaders, including India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.
Participating in a Rajya Sabha discussion on Vande Mataram, Kharge said the Prime Minister had “misled the House” regarding past correspondence between Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose. He added that leaders who did not sing Vande Mataram during the freedom struggle are “now singing the national song”.
Kharge said BJP’s allegations against Congress leaders are “far from the truth” and demanded an apology. He argued that the country is facing serious issues, declining rupee value, unemployment and economic stress, which should be prioritised instead of unnecessary controversies.
He criticised attempts to “divert attention” by targeting Nehru, stating that such attacks disrespect not only Nehru but also national icons such as Rabindranath Tagore and Bose, as well as freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives.
Kharge claimed he has been singing Vande Mataram for 60 years and highlighted that the Congress has a long tradition of singing the national song at party conventions, making it an anthem of the freedom struggle. He noted that the Congress Working Committee, including Mahatma Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose and Madan Mohan Malviya, had decided to recite only the first two verses.
The Congress chief also accused non-Congress parties of failing to participate in the freedom struggle and said some had even “disrespected the Constitution” by burning copies alongside effigies of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
He reiterated that Congress has always respected Vande Mataram, recalling that a special postage stamp was released during Indira Gandhi’s tenure to mark the song’s 100th anniversary.
