Karna slaps ban on issue of mineral dispatch permits

"To protect the natural resources and to check illegal mining and illegal export of minerals, it has been decided to stop issue of Mineral Dispatch Permit with immediate effect," a notification issued by state's Commerce and Industries Department said here.

The notification said the Mines and Geology Department was in the process of framing new set of guidelines governing issue of transport permits for minerals in the wake of illegal exports reported from Belekere and Karwar ports in recent times.

The government was collecting information on the quantum of minerals production in the state, extent of minerals available for local industries for value addition and the quantum that was being exported now, it said. There was an urgent need to bring to a halt illegal mining and illegal transport of minerals without permits, it noted.

It has become inevitable for the government to ban issue of permits until further orders, it said. Two days ago, the BJP government ordered for closure of 10 ports to curb illegal export of iron ore after it came under intense attack from opposition Congress, which has undertaken padayatra over the issue since July 25.

It is learnt that the decision to close ports and ban issue of permits has not gone down well with Reddy brothers-- Tourism Minister G Janardhana Reddy and Revenue Minister G Karunakara Reddy. Even Congress MLA Santosh Lad, another mining baron, has opposed such decisions of the government and declared he would challenge in them legally.

Reddy brothers had spearheaded a dissident movement against Yeddyurappa, demanding his ouster during September last year and a truce was brought about by the intervention of the BJP high command then.

The Congress has already dubbed the ports closure and ban on issue of permits as an "eye wash and drama" by the BJP government. Minor ports which were closed by the government do not engage in iron ore exports, Congress leaders maintained.