'Nothing done to undo mining damage'

Their sensational reports on illegal mining created upheavals in politics. But nothing has happened on ground to rectify the damage done by it. Or, at least, that is what the book ‘Laws of Mines and Minerals,’ co-authored by Justice M B Shah and senior Indian Forest Services officer U V Singh, says.

Justice Shah is head of the Special Investigation Team on black money. He exposed illegal iron ore mining in Goa. Also, Singh’s reports form the crux of former Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde’s report on illegal iron ore mining in Ballari and other parts of Karnataka.

Justice Shah told Deccan Herald that despite a number of judgements, the stakeholders have failed to implement the law and curb illegal mining.

There is corruption everywhere and many people are trying to find ways to get out of it. This book is an eyeopener for people, he said.

“It is a commentary on all the rules and how they have been interpreted by various courts including the Supreme Court. The book gives an insight of how stakeholders and lessees are misinterpreting them,” Singh said.