NGO for CBI probe into firms' mining illegalities

Dharwad-based NGO Samaja Parivartana Samudaya called upon the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) on Saturday to recommend a CBI inquiry into the alleged illegalities committed by private companies like Adani Enterprises and Jindal Steel Works (JSW) in iron ore mining.

The Samudaya, in its petition before the CEC, urged it to recommend a CBI inquiry into the alleged bribes paid by Adani Enterprises to various public servants, among the police and the port authorities, to commit the theft of iron ore from Belekeri and Karwar ports.

The alleged activities of JSW, in the matter of receipt of illicit ore and its nexus with Associated Mining, were required to be probed by the central agency, the NGO said.

NGO members - S R Hiremath and P Vishnu Kamath - submitted that there was alleged profiteering by JSW through the receipt of iron ore (by overloading) and causing a loss of Rs 324 crore to the State exchequer. Apart from this, the alleged nexus between JSW, South West Mining Company, the payments allegedly made to the close relatives of former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa to secure favourable government recommendations for the acquisition of iron ore assets and all other related matters should be probed, they said.

The petitioners requested the CEC to recommend the immediate restoration of Jeevan Kumar Gaonkar as Additional DGP, Lokayukta Police and Pronab Mohanty as IG of the organisation, by transferring the incumbent officers.

Pleading to recommend the initiation of criminal proceedings on the findings of the Lokayukta in connection with illegal mining, the petitioners requested the CEC to appoint a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to monitor the investigations.

They also requested the CEC to pass a suitable order asking both Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh governments to demarcate the interstate boundary in a time bound manner and report it to the Supreme Court.

Earlier, when the NGO made charges against the private mining companies for alleged illegal activities in the Supreme Court, the latter had directed the CEC to consider the allegations and submit its recommendations. The CEC will submit its recommendations to the apex court.