JOIN USReport on illegal mining submitted to Lokayukta
Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde submitted his report to the government on December 18, 2008 after a detailed investigation. The report had revealed losses to the tune of several thousand crores due to illegal mining to the state exchequer.
The State Chief Secretary K Sudhakar Rao submitted the ATR to Hegde which runs into several volumes. Rao also briefed Hegde about measures initiated by the government after considering recommendations made by him.
Lokayukta sources said the government has accepted most of the recommendations. A letter addressed to the Lokayukta by the Chief Secretary indicates the government’s consensus with the report.
Hegde told Deccan Herald: “The government has given detailed answers regarding steps taken. I have not yet gone through contents of the ATR as it runs into several volumes.”
The Lokayukta had recommended action against 11 officials of Mysore Mineral, who were allegedly responsible for illegal mining and former chief minister N Dharam Singh for issuing permission to carry out mining in revenue land. The accused IAS officials are Mahendra Jain, I R Perumal, G V Kongwad, B Umesh, K S Manjunath, D S Ashwath, Gangaram Baderia and senior IPS officer Jeeja Madhavan Hari Singh. The departmental inquiry was suggested against the following junior officials: Basappa Reddy, K Srinivas, M Ramappa and Shankarlingaiah.
Rao’s letter states the two officials have filed objections claiming false information to the Lokayukta has forced for action against them. Hence, an inquiry will be conducted before taking the final decision, adds the letter.
The action taken report says that a letter has been written to the Central government urging for a joint survey of reserve forest near Bellary which falls on the bordering area between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh ,where Obalapuram Mining Company has allegedly indulged in illegal mining activity. The report also states that action has been taken against 32 companies for encroachment of forest land. Inspection work of 40 ore godowns has been completed. A sum of Rs 40 crore has been recovered from private companies in connection with alleged irregularities in Mysore Minerals.
Regarding issuance of separate license to each truck, collecting and recording the same in the last check post, the government has replied that the Mining and Geology Sciences Department has been directed to implement the recommendation.
The government has accepted most of the recommendations made by the Lokayukta.
DH News Service