From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Dec 5: Mounting pressure on Karnataka’s chief minister B S Yeddyurappa to emulate the example of his Andhra Pradesh Congress counterpart K Rosaiah in urging the Centre to conduct a CBI probe into all illegal mining activities in the Karnataka-Andhra border areas, state Congress opposition leader in the Council V S Ugrappa alleged that Yeddyurappa as well as BJP state and national leaders were involved in a conspiracy to cover up the entire scandal.

"Let the chief minister accept the demand for a CBI probe if his contention that there was no illegal mining in the state was correct,’’ Ugrappa said while addressing a news conference in Bangalore on Friday.

In a sharp reaction to Yeddyurappa’s reported remarks at Raichur that there was no illegal mining in the state, Ugrappa wondered whether the chief minister was fooling himself or the people. ``The chief minister’s claim is an utter lie. He should tender an unconditional apology to the people,’’ he said asking Yeddyurappa to read Lokayukta’s voluminous report on the issue.

With tourism and infrastructure minister G Janardhana Reddy and his elder brother and revenue minister G Karunakara Reddy and their supporters spearheading the recent dissidence war against Yeddyurappa and succeeding in extracting their pound of flesh by ensuring the sacking of rural development and panchayat minister Shobha Karandlaje, Ugrappa said the chief minister was afraid to strike against the Bellary mining lords.

The Andhra Pradesh government, however, has asked the Centre to conduct CBI probe into the alleged illegal minining activities by Obulapuram Mining Company, Ananthapur Mining Company and other undertakings owned by the Bellary Reddy Brothers, and has even ordered stay on all mining activities by six companies.

The former Andhra chief minister and Telugu Desam chief N Chandrababu Naidu, who has launched a tirade against the Bellary Reddy Brothers and demanded CBI probe, has also sought to enlist the help of other non-BJP opposition parties, including the JD(S) led by former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, to curb all illegal mining.

Rs 560 cr textile park at Shimoga:

Meanwhile, the state textile minister Gulihatti D Shekar announced the sanctioning of Rs 250 acres of land for the setting up of a textile park at Shimoga, the home district of the chief minister, by a Bangalore-based garment manufacturing firm, Sai Exports, at an estimated cost of Rs 560 crore.

The proposed textile park coming up in the 250-acre plot of land acquired by the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) is expected to generate 50,000 jobs in the next few years, the minister said.

Sai Exports will be paying Rs 10 lakh per acre to KIADB, the minister said mentioning that the promoter had been asked to give preference to locals.

KIADB had already acquired 530 acres of land in Shimoga about three years for the setting up of the textile park. With none of the private investors coming forward to evince interest in setting up the textile park, Sai Exports was chosen.

The power requirements of the proposed textile park would be met by the Mangalore Electricity Supply Company (MESCOM) and Sai Exports would be eligible for all incentives and concessions available under the 2008 Textile Policy.

The state government has offered to provide financial aid of Rs 500 crore for effective implementation of the policy as Maharashtra and Gujarat governments offered more incentives for investors to set up textile units.

The government planned to set up integrated textile parks at Belgaum, Bagalkote, Harappanahalli in Davanagere and Maddur in Mandya, the minister said adding that efforts were on to persuade Bombay Rayon Fashions Ltd and other textile companies to set up units in the state.