Synergizing Judicial and Administrative Mechanisms for Environmental Restoration in Karnataka’s Mining- Affected Zones

Abstract

This article explores the synergy between India’s National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Karnataka Mining Environment Restoration Corporation (KMERC) in addressing environmental degradation caused by illegal mining in Karnataka’s Ballari, Vijayanagara, Chitradurga, and Tumkur districts. The NGT’s judicial oversight, grounded in principles such as “polluter pays” and sustainable development, enforces environmental compliance through landmark rulings, while KMERC’s Comprehensive Environmental Plan for Mining Impacted Zones (CEPMIZ) implements restoration through technology- driven tools like Geographic Information System (GIS) and a web-based Management Information System (MIS). Drawing on the CEPMIZ Project Implementation Manual (2023) and recent NGT rulings, the study examines how technology and community participation bridge enforcement gaps, ensuring transparency and prioritizing socio-economic restoration for vulnerable groups. Comparative analysis with global tribunals, such as Australia’s Land and Environment Court, underscores the model’s alignment with international environmental law principles. The paper contributes to environmental law scholarship by proposing a scalable framework for integrating judicial and administrative mechanisms, offering insights for sustainable governance in mining-affected regions worldwide.