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The mining ghost is back once again to haunt the rich and powerful in Bellary. This time the decision of the Supreme Court appointing a new committee to survey 99 mines in the Bellary-Hospet region has sent shock waves as the decision of the apex court could lead to the cancellation of leases given to violators.
The recent order of a special three-judge forest-Bench headed by Chief Justice SH Kapadia, Justice Aftab Alam and Justice KS Radhakrishnan, constituting a committee comprising officers of the State’s Forest and Geology Departments, besides representatives of the Lokayukta and the court-appointed Central Empowered Committee, has added to the fears of miners involved in illegal mining and benami transactions.
Even though the mining sector has expressed its concern about the total ban affecting the mining industry, the impact of the constitution of apex court-supervised committee to survey 99 mines has raised hopes here. In fact, an official in the Karnataka Lokayukta feels that this would stop over-exploitation of iron ore and save natural resources. The official told The Pioneer that the survey of mines will have a large impact since most of the miners had violated rules and encroached upon forest land.
Meanwhile, a source in the Lokayukta confirmed that the second report on illegal mining was ready and would be submitted soon to the State Government. The source confirmed that the report also included names of people involved in illegal mining and their nexus with political parties. The source quoted that the report also talked about the role of the Reddy brothers of Bellary.
The source stated, “The Supreme Court order is a welcome step. It brings the culprits to book. It also eliminates myths about honest miners and the role of the neo-rich in Bellary. As far as I know, the second report of the Lokayukta is ready and certainly it seals the fate of many powerful politicians.”
Meanwhile, the State BJP has said that it would bring out a booklet on illegal mining in 19 mining areas and 99 mining companies into which the Supreme Court has ordered an investigation. Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa told the media on Sunday and alleged that illegal mining was a “sin baby” of the Centre and the earlier JD (S) Government in the State.
He said, “During my tenure as Chief Minister, I have not given a single licence for mining. When illegal mining was unearthed by the State Lokayukta, the Central Government, instead of taking action, remained silent.”
Meanwhile, Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) has said that a blanket ban on iron ore mines in the Bellary-Hospet region will lead to abrupt stoppage of supplies to steel plants and leave lakhs of workers jobless.
PTI adds: Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa on Sunday said the JD(S) be “uprooted”, noting that the State had no future with the party around and preferred the Congress to continue as the main Opposition party.
Claiming that there is a fight going on between the JD(S) and Congress over who should occupy the slot of the main Opposition party, he expressed his preference for the Congress to be in that position, saying the JDs had better go out. “Let’s wait and see what happens in this fight”, he told reporters here.
However, the CM added his desire is that the Congress remains the main Opposition party in the State.
The JDS, headed by former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, is currently spearheading a “people’s movement” against the BJP Government highlighting allegations of corruption against it, while the Congress has planned a “Raj Bhavan chalo” programme for Monday demanding dismissal of the Yeddyurappa Government.
The Chief Minister did not find anything unusual about the Congress move, saying the party is only discharging its duty as an Opposition party.
The recent order of a special three-judge forest-Bench headed by Chief Justice SH Kapadia, Justice Aftab Alam and Justice KS Radhakrishnan, constituting a committee comprising officers of the State’s Forest and Geology Departments, besides representatives of the Lokayukta and the court-appointed Central Empowered Committee, has added to the fears of miners involved in illegal mining and benami transactions.
Even though the mining sector has expressed its concern about the total ban affecting the mining industry, the impact of the constitution of apex court-supervised committee to survey 99 mines has raised hopes here. In fact, an official in the Karnataka Lokayukta feels that this would stop over-exploitation of iron ore and save natural resources. The official told The Pioneer that the survey of mines will have a large impact since most of the miners had violated rules and encroached upon forest land.
Meanwhile, a source in the Lokayukta confirmed that the second report on illegal mining was ready and would be submitted soon to the State Government. The source confirmed that the report also included names of people involved in illegal mining and their nexus with political parties. The source quoted that the report also talked about the role of the Reddy brothers of Bellary.
The source stated, “The Supreme Court order is a welcome step. It brings the culprits to book. It also eliminates myths about honest miners and the role of the neo-rich in Bellary. As far as I know, the second report of the Lokayukta is ready and certainly it seals the fate of many powerful politicians.”
Meanwhile, the State BJP has said that it would bring out a booklet on illegal mining in 19 mining areas and 99 mining companies into which the Supreme Court has ordered an investigation. Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa told the media on Sunday and alleged that illegal mining was a “sin baby” of the Centre and the earlier JD (S) Government in the State.
He said, “During my tenure as Chief Minister, I have not given a single licence for mining. When illegal mining was unearthed by the State Lokayukta, the Central Government, instead of taking action, remained silent.”
Meanwhile, Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) has said that a blanket ban on iron ore mines in the Bellary-Hospet region will lead to abrupt stoppage of supplies to steel plants and leave lakhs of workers jobless.
PTI adds: Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa on Sunday said the JD(S) be “uprooted”, noting that the State had no future with the party around and preferred the Congress to continue as the main Opposition party.
Claiming that there is a fight going on between the JD(S) and Congress over who should occupy the slot of the main Opposition party, he expressed his preference for the Congress to be in that position, saying the JDs had better go out. “Let’s wait and see what happens in this fight”, he told reporters here.
However, the CM added his desire is that the Congress remains the main Opposition party in the State.
The JDS, headed by former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, is currently spearheading a “people’s movement” against the BJP Government highlighting allegations of corruption against it, while the Congress has planned a “Raj Bhavan chalo” programme for Monday demanding dismissal of the Yeddyurappa Government.
The Chief Minister did not find anything unusual about the Congress move, saying the party is only discharging its duty as an Opposition party.
