NCPNR, JNP to launch statewide campaign on illegal mining

"The 15-day campaign which will first commence in taluks will focus on implementation of the second report on illegal mining submitted by former Lokayukta Santosh Hegde in letter and spirit by the state government", NCPNR convener S R Hiremath told reporters today.
The court-monitored CBI enquiry into illegal mining in the state will be the other focal point of the campaign, he said.

"It is a Jana Jagriti Jatha (People's Awareness Campaign) against illegal mining on the lines of the one undertaken by anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare against corruption", said Raghavendra Kushtagi of JNP.

The Jatha will commence in Raichur, Gadag, Dharwad, Haveri, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Mysore, Davanagere, Bellary and Koppala taluks where JNP has a strong base, he said.

On Central Empowered Committee's report on illegal mining, he said P V Jayakrishnan, CEC Chairman has directed Deputy Commissioners of three mining districts of Bellary, Tumkur and Chitradurga to take stringent action against mining firms which violated the Karnataka Land Revenue Act 1964 by dumping mineral waste on "Gomala lands".

"The firms has been directed to get this mining waste cleared at their expense", he said, adding they are in regular contact with DCs to ensure implementation of this direction.