I did not de-reserve forest area for mining: SMK
Union External Affairs Minister S M Krishna on Sunday sought to clarify that he did not de-reserve any forest area for mining activity during his tenure as the chief minister between 1999 and 2004 in the State.
In a release, he claimed that the Cabinet, sometime in 2003, decided to de-reserve mineral wealth for mining. The government is fully empowered to take such a decision as per the Minerals Concession Rules. A gazette notification was also issued to this effect.
"I wish to point out that I never retained the portfolio of Mines and Geology. Further, to the best of my knowledge no mining licence was issued during my tenure. Even if such licences were issued this would have been by the competent authority of the Mines and Geology Department," he stated.
A Special Lokayukta Court had on Saturday ordered a probe into the alleged involvement of three former chief ministers, including Krishna, in illegal mining in the State. It ordered the probe based on a private complaint.
He also said the Lokayukta's mining report has not indicted him anywhere. "I am more than certain that the judiciary would vindicate me and put to rest once and for all such unholy attempts of character assassination," he stated.
