'Will act on illegal mining report governor's recommendation'

Karnataka Lokayukta Shivaraj Patil on Tuesday said he would act on the illegal mining report submitted by his predecessor and Governor Bhardwaj’s recommendation to initiate criminal proceedings against indicted former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa.

“I have almost read the voluminous mining scam report. I will examine the provisions available under the law to initiate action in this regard,” Patil told reporters here. Patil also said he would read the Governor’s letter and take appropriate steps to initiate criminal proceedings against Yeddyurappa, who had to quit as Chief Minister following the indictment by the previous Lokayukta Santosh Hegde.

The Governor had recommended Lokayukta to initiate criminal proceedings against Yeddyurappa. To another question, he said Lokayukta police would probe the complaint against Yeddyurappa, alleging irregularities in the Upper Bhadra irrigation project, which was referred to it for probe by a local court yesterday.

He said the Lokayukta would draw up a roadmap and an action plan by month-end to address issues on improving functioning of Lokayukta. “I would like to suggest to the government to launch online registration of property documents and install CCTVs in government offices to check corruption.”

Patil also said the conviction rate in corruption cases handled by Lokayukta in 2011 shot up to 45 per cent, compared to six to seven per cent a few years back.