Govt cracks down on illegal mining

Official sources said the seized ore belonged to one N Mansur Ahmed who is a mining lease holder. Documents of the seized ore have been submitted to the JMFC court at Hospet.

The squad, which was sent from Bangalore, got wind of illegally hoarded ore on Friday night. After almost a day’s preparation for the raid, the stock was taken into squad custody. The panchanama was drawn on Saturday.

Over the last one week, at least 3 lakh tonne of ore has been seized, sources said. Each tonne in the international market is valued at Rs 4,000. Officials put the value of the seized ore at Rs 120 crore in the local market. In the international market, it may fetch not less than Rs 1,200 crore.

The following quantum of ore illegally mined/stored have been seized last week: Star Minerals, 30,790 mt, Jambunathanahalli, Hospet; Fabio Exports, 75,000 mt, Siddapur village, Sandur; Harishita Business Venture, 63,300 mt, Hulikunte 18, Sandur taluk; Redrock, 32,000 mt, Hulikunte 18, Sandur tq; and Rajmahal Silk, 57,730 mt, Hulikunte, Sandur taluk.

The squad has briefed the Lokayukta police on the raids and seizures, the sources said.
It is learnt that squads of the Forest Department, Regional Transport Office, Public Works Department and Lokayukta are also patrolling Sandur and Hospet taluks where mine owners operate in large numbers.

The squad of the Forest Vigilance Cell is checking the documents carried by trucks transporting ore. In the last two days, eight to 10 trucks carrying invalid transport permits were seized, the sources said.

It is learnt that the government has given stringent direction to officers to come down heavily on illegal mining.