Govt insists illegal mining, ore export under check
The special squad, formed by the State Government to check the transport and hoarding of illegal iron ore, has seized a huge quantity of mineral, stored in various private stockyards of Bellary district, claimed Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa.
He was addressing reporters here on Tuesday after a review meeting with the officials of the Forest, Revenue and Mining departments. The meeting is consequent to the High Court’s dressing down to the Government in connection with the illegal mining after the export ban and the Lokayukta Santosh Hegde’s open statement saying that the State has failed to prevent illegal mining.
Giving a recap of the measures he has taken in the recent past, the Chief Minister said permission to 58 private stockyards has been cancelled and lakhs of tonnes of iron ore, which has been hoarded, has been seized.
Elaborating on the seizure made by the special squad, the Chief Minister said 3,087 metric tonne of iron ore has been seized by the mobile squad on August 30 and an FIR has been registered in Bellary Rural police station, he said. Yeddyurappa said about 75,000 metric tonnes of iron ore has been seized from Siddapura in Sandur taluk and a case has been filed before the JMFC, Sandur.
Similarly 30, 790 metric tonnes of ore has been seized from Jambavanthanahalli in Hospet taluk on August 30. Two tractors have been seized from Kariganaur and about 200 persons involved in illegal mining have been apprehended, he added. He said a request has been made to the Andhra Pradesh Government to initiate action against 30 illegal stockyards at Mallappanagudi.
When a reporter pointed out that the Union Government has been arguing that ban on export of ore will not stop illegal mining, Yeddyurappa challenged the Centre to come out with better options to prevent it.
Other steps taken to prevent illegal mining, according to the Chief Minister, included installation of six CCTVs at Hagari check-post along Karnataka- AP border; introduction of bar code reader and computers to study illegal permits and 13 integrated stations to check illegal mining.
