<p>According to the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General, the losses could be attributed to miners who have defaulted on paying royalty and licence fee to the government.<br /><br />Between 2004 and 2007, miners have continuously engaged in quarrying in Chamarajanagar and Kollegal taluks, but have evaded payment of dues.<br /><br />The State government has advised the district administration to take stringent measures to make good the loss. It has set a deadline and instructed it to recover the dues from the miners.<br /><br />Industrialists from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, former and current ministers, MLAs et al, are said to be in the business under benami names. Some senior officers of the Mines and Geology department are also hand in glove with the miners, it is alleged.<br /><br />Kollegal taluk has incurred a loss of Rs 792 crore and Chamarajanagar Rs 894.53 crore. More than 35 mines have allegedly defaulted on payments, thereby necessitating a detailed inquiry into the matter.<br /><br />A copy of the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General is with the Deccan Herald.<br />The State government has ordered issue of notices to khata owners on whose lands mining is taking place. The district adminstration has been told to conduct a reality check of granite quarrying through video shoots and snaps to estimate the extent of quarrying, to identify the number of companies involved, and also to record the reasons given by defaulters. Statements of the villagers will also be taken into account.<br /><br />The granite variety available in Chamarajanagar is popular in Asia. Hence, a spurt in the number of mines in the region. It is alleged that unbridled quarrying is taking place around the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary and the Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Hills Tiger Reserve.</p>
<p>According to the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General, the losses could be attributed to miners who have defaulted on paying royalty and licence fee to the government.<br /><br />Between 2004 and 2007, miners have continuously engaged in quarrying in Chamarajanagar and Kollegal taluks, but have evaded payment of dues.<br /><br />The State government has advised the district administration to take stringent measures to make good the loss. It has set a deadline and instructed it to recover the dues from the miners.<br /><br />Industrialists from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, former and current ministers, MLAs et al, are said to be in the business under benami names. Some senior officers of the Mines and Geology department are also hand in glove with the miners, it is alleged.<br /><br />Kollegal taluk has incurred a loss of Rs 792 crore and Chamarajanagar Rs 894.53 crore. More than 35 mines have allegedly defaulted on payments, thereby necessitating a detailed inquiry into the matter.<br /><br />A copy of the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General is with the Deccan Herald.<br />The State government has ordered issue of notices to khata owners on whose lands mining is taking place. The district adminstration has been told to conduct a reality check of granite quarrying through video shoots and snaps to estimate the extent of quarrying, to identify the number of companies involved, and also to record the reasons given by defaulters. Statements of the villagers will also be taken into account.<br /><br />The granite variety available in Chamarajanagar is popular in Asia. Hence, a spurt in the number of mines in the region. It is alleged that unbridled quarrying is taking place around the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary and the Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Hills Tiger Reserve.</p>
