'Illegal mining costing State about Rs 5,000 cr'

Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly Siddaramaiah today alleged that the state is losing revenues to the tune of Rs 4,500-5,000 crore annually due to illegal mining.

“This money which is supposed to go to the state treasury is going to pockets of many people who are looting the state’s mineral wealth,” he said in his preliminary remarks seeking to move an adjournment motion over the issue. “The state government had failed to protect the mineral resources... Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has expressed his helplessness in curbing illegal mining on a number of occasions,” he said.

The Speaker rejected permission for the adjournment motion, but converted it to be discussed as a subject of public importance. Yeddyurappa said the government is ready for a half-day or a day-long discussion on the issue and appealed to Speaker K G Bopaiah to fix time in this regard.

“The ruling BJP in the state is the first government in the country which has taken a stern view on mining,” he said, adding that the government would not allow illegal mining.

Congress leader Siddaramaiah sought a CBI investigation into the illegal mining. “Even today, illegal mining is going on,” he said. The issue of illegal mining is expected to be discussed in the House tomorrow.