Licences of 51 mining companies cancelled

The State government on Thursday issued a notification cancelling the mining licences of 51 companies under the Category C following directions by the Supreme Court.

The Court had previously issued an order, based on the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) recommendations, to close down these mines.

Accordingly, the government will take possession of the 51 mining reserves in the three districts of Bellary, Tumkur and Chitradurga.

The major companies that face closure are Associated Mining Company (owned by former minister G Janardhana Reddy), V S Lad and Sons (owned by the Lad family), Lata Mining Company, Matha Minerals (owned in partnership with former minister V Somanna’s sons), Canara Minerals and others.