Illegal quarrying rampant in state, says govt report

Despite stringent measures, it seems illegal mining, quarrying of sand and stone are still rampant in the state, a Lokayukta enquiry has revealed. The Mines and Geology department has submitted a report to the Lokayukta that in the last three years penalty levied on illegal quarrying and transportation of stone and sand runs up to around Rs 108 crore in the state.

The Lokayukta had taken up a suo motu complaint based on media reports about illegal mining. The report submitted by the director, Mines and Geology department revealed that the task forces in districts such as Haveri, Raichur and Kodagu districts have not been active in taking measures to stop illegal mining and transportation. The report says that in the last three years, district task forces have collected a penalty of around Rs 44 crore from illegal sand miners and Rs 64 crore from various illegal stone quarrying and transportation in the state.

“The report has furnished the statistics of cases booked, penalties levied against illegal mining, transportation as well as storage of such materials across the state. The statistics are for the period between 2015 and May 2018,’’ a Lokayukta official said.

In one particular complaint about illegal extraction of stones in Devanahalli, the Lokayukta has directed the Mines and Geology department to expedite collection of penalty from the illegal operators.

“A joint survey was conducted before, in respect of survey number 272 of Sadahalli village, Devanahalli taluk. The map depicts illegal extraction of stones and murram (red soil). He (director of mines and geology) hopes to take a final decision in the matter within about three months to collect the necessary penalty from those indulging in illegal extraction of stones and murram. The officer says illegal quarrying in Devanahalli has been stopped and six home guards have been deployed to keep a watch,’’ Lokayukta Justice P Vishwanath Shetty said.

The Lokayukta has directed the Mines and Geology department to get status reports from the task forces in the districts, headed by the respective deputy commissioners and submit a report by December 2018.