No Mining On Madhya Pradesh Hill Linked To "Lord Ram's Pledge": Government After Outrage

While geologists expected to find gemstones, Ramcharitmanas says hills in this region have skeletons of seers buried for thousands of years

No mining will be allowed on the hill where Lord Ram is believed to have taken a pledge to kill demons, the Madhya Pradesh government has now decided. A huge controversy began after the Satna district administration was announced a public hearing for September 30 —mandatory under environment laws — before a nod to mining Siddha Pahad.

While geologists expected to find gemstones, ‘Aranya Kand' of Hindu epic ‘Ramcharitmanas' says hills in the region have skeletons of seers buried for thousands of years, and this is where Lord Ram, during his exile of 14 years, resolved to rid the earth of evil forces.

There was disquiet within the ruling BJP too, besides jibes from the Congress, which today said “truth has won” and “Shivraj Chouhan's government has accepted its mistake" after former chief minister Kamal Nath warned of protests.

Mr Chouhan's statement read: “Siddha Pahad in Satna is a centre of our faith and reverence. The sanctity of this place will be kept intact. Mining here will not take place at any cost. Instructions have been issued to the district administration.”