Ramesh`s letter to the chief minister, which attached a series of news reports that appeared in TOI on October 15 and 16, expressed serious doubts on the credibility and integrity of the environment-impact assessment reports, saying: "It appears to me that if these mining leases are not reviewed, we would be opening the gates to a very severe environmental disaster."
The TOI reports warned of the serious environmental problems that could visit this beautiful, lush green belt along the Western Ghats. They also spoke of the ecological impact, including loss of forest cover, irreparable damage to flora and fauna, heavily dependent on the forest and its resources. The reports also described how easy it was to get fabricated environmental-impact assessment reports prepared to ease the way for the mines.