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Government firm on ending illegal mining: Yeddyurappa
| Scope of inquiry into the issue by the Lokayukta extended |
Waiting for their turn: Beneficiaries of Bhagya Lakshmi scheme at a function to mark the BJP Government’s 100 days in office, in Bangalore on Tuesday.
BANGALORE: Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Tuesday asserted that his Government had decided to end illegal mining in the State by extending the scope of inquiry by the Lokayukta.
The former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy had ordered a Lokayukta probe into all “illegal mining” deals from January 1, 2000 to 2006. This inquiry has now been extended by the Yeddyurappa Government. In a recent order, the Karnataka High Court suggested nationalisation of iron ore mining apart from banning mining in forest land. Acting on the court order, the Yeddyurappa Government has initiated a move to bring in a new mining policy.
Speaking at a function organised to mark the completion of his Government’s 100 days in office at the Banquet Hall of the Vidhana Soudha, Mr. Yeddyurappa said that after the formation of the BJP Government, he had neither issued new mining licenses nor renewed the old ones. The Government had issued an order asking the Lokayukta to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into illegal mining till date.
Stating that most of the iron ore from the State was being exported, he said: “Other countries are storing iron ore imported from Karnataka for the benefit of future generations.” While there would not be any problem for authorised mining, the Government would not allow illegal mining. The State exported iron ore worth Rs. 8,000 crore a year, but received a measly royalty of Rs. 80 crore.
The Chief Minister, who released a 30-page performance report of his Government, said: “I have nothing to conceal. Let the truth come out.” The Government was committed to putting an end to illegal mining and would not allow looting of the State’s precious mineral wealth. “Mining, if any, shall be permitted only for value-addition such as setting up of steel or sponge iron plants,” he said. Following the Rs. 150-crore bribery allegation by the then BJP MLC, G. Janardhana Reddy, who is now Minister for Tourism and Infrastructure, Mr. Kumaraswamy had ordered a Lokayukta inquiry into “illegal” mining from 2000.
Meanwhile, the Government on Tuesday issued an order extending the scope of inquiry by the Lokayukta into illegal mining in accordance with the directions issued by the Chief Minister.
The inquiry was handed over to the Lokayukta by the Kumaraswamy Government when the U.L. Bhat Commission of Inquiry was wound up. The inquiry period will now be from January 1, 2000, to September 9, 2008.
Mr. Yeddyurappa criticised the Karnataka Milk Federation’s move to increase milk price by Rs. 2 a litre when the Government offered a cash incentive of Rs. 2 a litre for milk producers and wondered whether the federation had any justification. About 20 lakh milk producers would benefit from the incentive of Rs. 2 a litre, he said.
Without referring to federation chairman and former Minister H.D. Revanna, he said the Government would not allow the common man to be burdened with increase in milk prices at a time when inflation had touched double digit. “If the KMF has any reason to increase the milk price, let them discuss with me. I am prepared to help,” he said. He urged the Centre to grant classical language status to Kannada this year when the celebrations to mark the golden jubilee of the State’s formation would end. He would lead an agitation if the Centre did not grant the classical language status to Kannada by then, Mr. Yeddyurappa said.
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