Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Feb 17: A divisional bench of the state High Court comprising of Chief Justice P D Dinakaran and Justice K L Manjunath asked the government on Monday February 16, to present the illegal mining report before it on February 24. 

"The Lokayukta does not have power to implement the said report. Therefore, this report should be presented in the court. We will take this report as the basis to dispose of mining dispute cases," the court said.

The bench took umbrage to the government's action in permitting unregulated export of ore and passed oral instructions to the government, asking it to ensure that the ore export is stopped forthwith. The judges observed that factories in the state in the public sector are facing closure because of the dearth of ore, whereas private firms and individuals involved with iron ore export are given a free hand.  The bench pointed out that Vishweshwaraiah Iron and Steel Ltd factory in Bhadravati has stopped functioning because of lack of raw materials, making thousands of workers to lose their jobs. At the same time, the state is exporting ore. This is ironical, it observed.

During the hearing of a petition moved by Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee member Shankar Munavalli, seeking directive from the High Court to hand over the Rs 150 crore mining scam that occurred during the regime of the coalition government in the state, advocate general Uday Holla drew the attention of the bench to the fact that a report on illegal mining had been presented by the Lokayukta in this respect, to the government on December 18. Accordingly, the judges passed the above order.

The High Court said that it can not close its eyes to the developments that can have serious repercussions. It has asked the government to furnish full particulars of procedures followed while allotting ore mines on lease, prices of iron ore, list of mining lease holders and other details to enable to pass an order.

The judges commented, that it would be beneficial for both the government and the people to export finished goods rather than the raw materials, by framing proper policies for the same, as it will have several advantages including mitigating unemployment problem.