CM Denies Charges of Illegal Mining, 20 Squads to Keep Vigil
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Aug 31: A day after Congress opposition leader in the state Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah alleged that illegal mining and unauthorized transportation of iron ore in the state has been going on unabated, chief minister B S Yeddyurappa has come out with a public assertion denying the charges outright.
The chief minister announced that the government was firm in its resolve to crackdown on the illegal mining and unauthorized transportation of iron ore and said that 20 squads have been deployed in different districts to curb illegal mining of iron ore and exports from the state.
In a significant development, the chief minister held a high-level review meeting to discuss the steps taken to check illegal mining in the state in which tourism and infrastructure minister G Janardhana Reddy, home minister Dr V S Acharya, chief secretary S V Ranganath and advocate general Ashok Harnahalli and officials of other departments participated.
It may be noted that Janardhana Reddy happens to be the main target of the attack from the Congress and JD(S) opposition members and their allegations regarding illegal mining and unauthorized transportation or export of iron ore from the state.
Addressing a news conference after the meeting, Yeddyurappa said as many as 13 joint squads have already been activated. The squads are keeping a 24-hour vigil.
Five squads are located in Karwar, two in Hospet and one each in Mangalore, Chitradurga, Bijapur, Bellary, Gadag and Hassan.
The squad comprises officials from the departments of forest, police, transport, commercial taxes, public works and revenue, he said.
In addition, seven special squads drawn from personnel of the departments of mines and forest have been pressed into service to check illegal mining and exports.
Six close-circuit televisions (CCTVs) have been installed at a check post located on state-Andhra Pradesh border and it has helped control the illegal transportation of iron ore, he said.
The government was firm in checking illegal mining in the state, Yeddyurappa affirmed, pointing out that licenses granted to 58 private yards storing iron ore have been cancelled.
Of the 58 yards, 39 were located in Bellary district, 10 in Koppal, five in Chitradurga, two in Tumkur, one each in Gadag and Bagalkote districts.
The chief minister said the illegally stored iron ore stocks had been seized at different places over the past one month.
A total of 75,000 tonnes of iron ore illegally stored had been seized at Siddapura in Sandur taluk, 3,787 tonnes at a place on Ananthpur road in Bellary city, and 30,790 tonnes at Jambunathahalli in Hospet taluk, he said.
The state government had recently announced a ban on exports of iron ore from 10 minor ports in the state but the opposition Congress and the Lokayukta have said that nothing has changed as illegal mining is still on.
Leader of opposition in the Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah alleged that iron ore mined in the state was being transported out of the state and shipped from ports in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
The chief minister said the state advocate general Ashok Harnahalli would personally meet the Lokayukta Justice Santhosh Hegde and brief him about the various steps taken by the government to check illegal mining and transportation of iron ore in the state.