Kolar Gold Fields

Demography – (Source: Kolar District : Population 2011-2021 data

https://www.census2011.co.in/census/district/260-kolar.html )

 Government Body - Robertsonpet Municipal Council

Elevation - 848 m (2,782 ft)

Kolar Houseless Census –

In 2011, total 306 families lived on footpath or without any roof cover in Kolar district of Karnataka.
Total Population of all who lived without roof at the time of Census 2011 numbers to 947. This is
approx. 0.06% of total population of Kolar district.

As per provisional 2011 reports of Census

Description 2011 2001

Population 15.36 Lakhs 13.87

Lakhs

Male 776,396 701,67

7

Female 760,005 685,38

5

Population Growth 10.77% 14.46%

Area Sq. Km 3,979 3,979

Density/km2 386 346

Proportion to Karnataka 2.51% 2.62%

Population

Sex Ratio (Per 1000) 979 977

Average Literacy% 74.39 65.84

Male Literacy% 81.81 75.99

Female Literacy% 66.84 55.46

 Concept Report – Interim Deliverable 1 Page 3

Ground Water Information Booklet Kolar District, Karnataka (August 2012)

1. Land use pattern –
5% of the total area of the district is covered by forest and 46 % under cultivation. 28% of the
area is uncultivated (2010-11). Area sown more than once in the district forms 2% of the
total area of the district.
4 Agriculture and Irrigation practices:

https://kolar.nic.in/en/kum2020/

Kolar is the headquarters of Kolar District and is known for production of

milk, which recently surpassed Denmark, and gold mining. Kolar is leading
India in production of mango, tomato, milk which exported to various
other nations like UK, USA, UAE etc. Kolar. The major sources of
employment are agricultural: dairy farming, sericulture and floriculture.
The district is popularly known as the land of “silk, milk and gold”.
The area irrigated by wells constitutes 99% of the total irrigated area. Dug well irrigation
practice is largely replaced by bore-well irrigation.

3. Blackbucks in KGF:
(Source: The Living Treasures of Kolar Gold Fields
https://jlrexplore.com/explore/unexplored-areas/the-living-treasures-of-kolar-gold-fields)

A narrow mud road behind Bharat Heavy Earth Movers Limited, in the town of Kolar Gold Fields
(KGF), leads to a hidden, lush grassland that is home to Blackbucks (Antilope cervicapra), also
known as Indian antelope. Blackbucks are found in small numbers in and around Tumkur and KGF.
They may have migrated to these grasslands after the mining stopped. This is their home now and
very few people except the locals know that they exist here. These grasslands, though unprotected,
serve as safe haven for a thriving population of Blackbucks.

The terrain at Kolar Gold Fields has rocky mounds, which serve as perfect perches for
harriers and other birds of prey that are found here.

Blackbucks against the backdrop of mining machinery.

MECL-BGML DMT Consulting (P) Limited

2020/1433 May-2021
Concept Report – Interim Deliverable 1 Page 3

MECL-BGML DMT Consulting (P) Limited

2020/1433 May-2021
2. Ground Water Issues and Problems in Kolar district:
 Ground water plays an important role in the economy of the farmers of the Kolar district. This district is popularly known as land of Silk and Milk.
Agriculture was mainly dependent on irrigation facility by numerable widely distributed tanks during earlier days.
 Due to drought situations farmers are now mainly depending upon borewells for their agriculture needs.
 Taluk-wise ground water resources, drafts, balance resources available and the category as on March 2009 show no
scope for further ground water development. All the taluks are over exploited.
 Even though Kolar district stands first in having the maximum number of irrigation tanks in Karnataka, their
dependability for irrigation again depends upon rainfall conditions. Hence, ground water has a special significance for
the all-round development of this water-starved district and plays a vital role in the development of this drought-prone
area.
 Fluoride concentration of more than 1.5 mg/l. is reported from many parts in the district.
Taluk-wise ground water resources, drafts, balance resources available and the category as on March 2009 are given in table below.

Table 2: Distribution of wells according to status as per MI Census 2005-06

KOLAR DISTRICT http://gazetteer.kar.nic.in/gazetteer/pdf/1968-20-

0/Kolar_1968_Chapter1_General.pdf
Hills –
Kolar district is dotted with a number of hills and peaks of varying heights, particularly in the north. The principal chain of mountains is the
Nandidurga range which runs north from Nandi as far as Penukcmda and Dharmavaram in the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. The
crowding together of numerous boulders of granite of various shapes and sizes piled one upon the other is very characteristic of the granite hills of
Kolar district.
Flora –
The rainfall being scanty and the rivers and streams dry for a large part of the year, the area is, for the most part, devoid of vegetation, and
scarcity conditions are very common. State-owned forest areas such as State forests, plantations, reserve lands, minor forests and village forests
form only about 10 per cent of the area of the district as against the recommended National standard of 33 per cent.
Most of the State-owned forests are confined to hilly tracts, the intervening plain areas being
brought under the plough. As could be expected in such hilly tracts with low rainfall, the soil
is either rocky, gravelly or very shallow, incapable of bearing better types of vegetation. The
underlying rock is mostly granitic-gneiss, generally unfavourable for rich forest growth.
As could be expected of such climatic and soil conditions, the vegetation is of either the dry
deciduous type or the thorny scrub type. The growing stock is stunted, the forest canopy
open and the vegetation is more or less xerophytic in nature.
Many parts of the forest areas, due to heavy working in the past for firewood and charcoal,
have lost the characteristics of forests over a great portion of the district. The State-owned
forests lie scattered all over the district and comprise an area, of nearly 300 square miles.
In other hilly regions, the soil presentation is of a shallow blackish vegetable mould. The
soils here give rise to trees and bushes but they do not attain size.

Soil conservation -
As a result of the denudation which set in due to over- soil exploitation in the past, soil-
erosion is evident in many of the conservation forest areas. Paucity of vegetal cover,
coupled with the absence of organic humus from the top-soil, has been the main cause for
the accelerated soil erosion. The other forests that have been very much degraded as a
result of over-exploitation in the past have been completely given a protection for
recoupment in due course.
Besides, largescale afforestation, to the extent of 1,500 to 2,000 acres per year, is being

taken up in barren areas of State forests and in the areas where the forests have been

degraded, with the object of improving the stock both in kind and quantity. Fast growing fuel

species like eucalyptus and other economically important species are being introduced in the

area taken up for afforestation.

The important minor forest products of the district are: (I) tanning bark, (2) myrobalans, (3)

tamarind, (4) sitaphal fruits, (5) maradi seeds, (6) honge leaves and seeds, and (7) tupra

leaves. These are sold biennially or triennially in public auction. The revenue derived from

firewood and these minor forest products amounts to about Rs. I,50,000 annually. The other

source of revenue from the forests of this district is that of sandal. About 100 tons of

sandalwood are extracted every year, fetching a revenue of about Rs. 3 lakhs.
Fauna –

Owing to the absence of thick jungles, there is not much cover for any of the wild beast

species like tiger, bison or elephant. Wild game is practically· unknown in the district. In the

Nandi hill ranges, occasional visitations of bears and panthers are known. Black-bucks and

deers are found, though in: small number, in the unfrequented parts which have little forest

growth.

Wind -
Winds are generally moderate with some increase in force in the monsoon months. From
May to September, winds are generally south-westerly to westerly and on some
afternoons northwesterly.
In October, winds from the north-east or east also blow and these predominate in the
period from November to January. Thereafter, there is a gradual clockwise shift of the wind
direction, particularly in the mornings, till April, when winds are mainly south-westerly to
westerly in the mornings and between north-east and south-east in the afternoons.

Socio-economic Impact of Unsystematic Mine Closure: A case of Kolar Gold Fields –

(Karthikeyan Kandasamyhariramguptha)
The sudden closure of the mines will affect the community’s entire livelihood and has
counter effect on health, employment, environment, population and economy. India as a
developing nation with its rich minerals content contributes sufficient towards the economic
growth of the mining industry but the livelihood of the mining workers and their family are
always kept in high level of risk. The policies and acts to control unplanned mine closure and
counter its effects on the community should be made strong by the government.
In the midst of this wasteland, many families are dreaming of the day that gold fields will
come alive once again. A lot of ex-BGML workers are now employed as security guards,
electricians and mechanics in Bangalore. The KGF-Bangalore train is full of passengers
bound for Whitefield, KR Puram, Malur and Bangalore as it leaves the gold town every
morning. (http://ismenvis.nic.in/LatestNewsArchieve.aspx?Id=4634&Year=2013)

Effects of unplanned mine closure:

The unplanned mine closure majorly affects the community on three parameters likely

physical, environmental and socio-economic. Each of this parameter have sub-

considerations.

 Physical: Health, Safety, Visual impact and Dust problems.

 Environmental: Air, Water and Land pollution.

 Socio- economic: Loss of employment and Business activity

Mitigations for these issues can be done through reclamation/ restoration for Physical and

environmental parameter and it’s a lifelong process. To tackle the issues related with socio-

economic parameter will be addressed through rehabilitation strategies which bring new land

use, employment, character and vibrancy to the place which has been lost. So, it’s more

important to consider the socio-economic at top position because the other two parameters

come along the cycle of reviving.

Data Analysis and inferences in Mining area:

a. Current Employment –
 Till the closure of mine these people have been working in the mines in various
grade according to the experience and education level. It is clearly seen that
after the closure of mine about 54% of the people started profession as auto
drivers and doing small business (like petty shop) with in the community. Even
the unemployment is more within the women in the communit

y.