State plans more steps to curb illegal mining

The Karnataka government will initiate more steps to check illegal mining and transportation of iron ore from Karnataka. This includes periodic review of the measures taken.

Addressing reporters here on Tuesday after reviewing the measures taken to curb illegal mining with senior officials of mines and geology department, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa said that the government would install more number of checkposts and increase the number of investigative squads to put a break on illegal mining.

Yeddyurappa said 20 squads are on the job to check illegal mining of iron ore and exports and rejected Opposition criticism that there is no let-up in the unlawful activity.

The government has also come for severe criticism from the Karnataka High Court and the Lokayukta for its failure to check illegal mining. The Opposition Congress party has also been criticising the government for its lacklustre attitude in curbing illegal mining.

The Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court recently pulled up the state government for its inability to bring in any effective measure to check these illegal activities while the Lokayukta has said that iron ore was still being exported despite the ban.

Among the measures planned by the state government include new checkposts, barcoding on the transportation permits and a special task force involving the police, mining and transportation departments.

Yeddyurappa said that the government has seized over 100,000 tonnes of iron ore from 58 stockyards, which were stored illegally in the last two months. These include 3,081 tonnes from Anathapura, 75,000 tonnes in Sandur and 30,799 tonnes from Hospet.

There would also be 13 joint police search teams that would be placed in locations like Mangalore, Karwar, Chitradurga, Hospet, Bellary and Gadag. They are keeping a 24-hour vigil and discharging their duties. The chief minister said that a detailed action taken report on illegal mining would be sent to the Lokayukta as well as to the High Court.

These squads — five in Karwar, two in Hospet and one each in Mangalore, Chitradurga, Bijapur, Bellary, Gadag and Hassan — comprise officials from the departments of Forest, Police, Transport, Commercial Taxes, Public Works and Revenue.

Six CCTVs have been installed at the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border checkpost. This has helped control the illegal ore transportation, he said, adding that licence to 58 private yards storing iron ore has also been cancelled.

The state government will also conduct a review meeting every 15 days on the new measures being taken with regard to illegal mining, he added.