CEC urged to help enforce Lokayukta mining report

Dharwad-based Samaj Parivartana Samudaya (SPS), a not-for-profit organisation fighting against illegal mining in Karnataka, has expressed serious concerns over the Karnataka government’s delay in taking action against the officials and entities involved in illegal mining.

The Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) had made several recommendations to the state government to curb illegal mining.

In a letter to the CEC, the SPS has urged for its immediate intervention on the matter and completion of its investigations expeditiously so that a complete picture of the various dimensions of illegal mining are brought to light.

“We have requested the CEC to complete the investigation into various issues regarding raising contracts, alleged income tax and export duty evasion by certain prominent mining entities and sanction of mineral dispatch permits to entities whose mining license had expired, among others. We have also asked them to direct the state government to implement Lokayukta’s final report on illegal mining,” S R Hiremath, founder of SPS, said.

Hearing on the writ petition of SPS against illegal mining in Bellary, Chitradurga and Tumkur, the Supreme Court had constituted CEC to probe the illegal mining. Subsequently, the SC has put a temporary stop on all mining activities in the state.

The CEC in its report to the Supreme Court had made several recommendations, including an action plan to take stringent action against illegal mining in the state. The state government, in its response to the CEC report, had filed an affidavit in the apex court promising complete cooperation to not only stop all illegal mining but also take action against all officials involved in the scandal.

The SPS, in a letter to the CEC last week brought to its notice that the state government, which had promised to take action against the officials, has not made any progress in this regard. The government had appointed a high power committee headed by Koushik Mukherjee, principal secretary, forest, ecology and environment to identify such officials within one week.

“When we met him in June, the list had not been finalised yet, let alone taking actions against them. This is a cause for serious concern. Further, the Lokayukta report dated July 27 contains a list of over 700 officials deeply involved in this massive scandal. It is, however, not known what action has been taken and against whom despite the passing of this time line,” Hiremath said.

He said SPS has written a fresh letter to CEC urging them to direct the government of Karnataka to file an action taken report on the various issues covered by their affidavit.

The SPS has also urged the CEC to recommend a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the case of missing iron ore seized and stored at Belikere port amounting to 550,000 tonnes.

“It is our view that the government of Karnataka is lacking the political will and administrative ability to implement any corrective measures. However, all will not be lost if CEC intervenes immediately and directs the state government to implement the recommendations of Lokayukta report on illegal mining,” Hiremath said.