Bangalore: Karnataka Govt to Act Tough on Illegal Mining
The Hindu
Bangalore, Sep 10: Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Tuesday asserted that his government had decided to end illegal mining in the State by extending the scope of the inquiry by the Lokayukta.
Former Chief Minister, H.D. Kumaraswamy, had ordered a Lokayukta probe into all "illegal mining" deals from January 1, 2000 to 2006. In a recent order, the Karnataka High Court suggested nationalisation of iron ore mining, besides banning mining in forestland. Acting on the court order, the Yeddyurappa government has initiated a move to bring in a new mining policy.
At a function organised to mark the completion of his government's 100 days in office at the Banquet Hall of the Vidhana Soudha, Mr. Yeddyurappa said that after the BJP came to power, he had neither issued new mining licences nor renewed old ones. The government had issued an order, asking the Lokayukta to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into illegal mining.
Stating that most of the iron ore from the State was being exported, he said, "Other countries are storing iron ore imported from Karnataka for the benefit of future generations." While there would not be any problem for authorised mining, the government would not allow illegal mining. The State exported iron ore worth Rs.8,000 crore a year, but received a measly royalty of Rs.80 crore.
The Chief Minister, who released a 30-page performance report of his government, said: "I have nothing to conceal. Let the truth come out." The government was committed to putting an end to illegal mining and would not allow looting of the State's precious mineral wealth. "Mining, if any, shall be permitted only for value-addition such as setting up of steel or sponge iron plants," he said. Following the Rs.150-crore bribery allegation by the then BJP MLC, G. Janardhana Reddy, who is now Minister for Tourism and Infrastructure, Mr. Kumaraswamy had ordered a Lokayukta inquiry into "illegal" mining from 2000, covering Congress Chief Minister S.M. Krishna's regime and the 20-month Dharam Singh-led Congress-Janata Dal (S) coalition regime.
Mr. Yeddyurappa criticised the Karnataka Milk Federation's move to increase milk price by Rs. 2 a litre when the government offered an incentive of Rs.2 a litre.