RAM TEMPLE: GOVT NOD TO PINK SANDSTONE MINING IN RAJASTHAN

JAIPUR: The Centre has given clearance to the Rajasthan government’s proposal to free some land from the Bansi Paharpur forest and Bandh Baretha wildlife sanctuary. Now, pink sandstone being used in the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya can be mined legally. The standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife headed by Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar met a few days back and approved the state’s proposal to reorganise the boundary of the wildlife sanctuary. In October 2020, the Rajasthan mining dept had asked the Union Environment and Forests Ministry denotify 5.56 sqkm in Bansi Paharpur. This would shift the boundary of the wildlife sanctuary southward to free 3 sandstone blocks from forest area for mining. Bansi Paharpur is famous for the stone, which has a unique pink hue costs about ` 800 per cubic feet. — Urvashi Dev Rawal