Surprise! CM agrees with Guv!

BSY concurs that State tops in illegal mining

Speaking with mediapersons after presiding over a district progress review meeting here, Yeddyurappa said the facts about illegal mining in the State were “alarming”, adding that he had already said so in the Assembly and had informed the Governor about it.

“The Governor is right in saying that there is illegal mining,” the chief minister said.

“I have also spoken about illegal mining at a meeting of chief ministers convened by the Prime Minister. But there was not much cooperation from the Centre,” Yeddyurappa added.

“I have not issued mining licences during my term as chief minister. It was during the S M Krishna regime that Ramarao Pole company was given licence,” he said about the company which has been charged with illegal mining by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) of the Supreme Court.

“I have tried to stop illegal mining in the State, and banned export of iron ore from the State,” the chief minister said.

He had a good word about the Lokayukta, who, he said, had highlighted the extensive illegal mining in the State.

“Regardless of how powerful the guilty are, I will take action against them, after the Supreme Court gives its ruling on the CEC report,” he said.

A detailed report on illegal mining during the governments of S M Krishna and H D Kumaraswamy is being readied and will be submitted on April 21, he said.

Earlier soon after his arrival in the city, the chief minister said henceforth two teams of officers headed by himself and Chief Secretary S V Ranganath respectively will review the progress of four districts each in a month.

Later, another meeting will be conducted by the chief secretary to the government in the capital, to keep track of the decisions taken at the district level meetings.

To another question on former MP and JD(S) leader Basavanagouda Patil Yatnal’s recent statement accusing the chief minister of misusing 22nd Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha conference that concluded at Suttur in Mysore district on Tuesday, to save his chair, the chief minister declined to comment.