Illegal mining Controversary In Bellary

January 28,2009

Have meetings for the suspected “illegal” mining in Bellary district drawn tangible solutions?

MSPL Ltd., a mining company based in Hospet, has staged allegations against the Directorate of Mines and Geology, on the grounds that officials of the Directorate are sanctioning encroachment and illegal mining. The company has submitted a letter to Chief Minister B.S.Yedyurappa, Principal Secretary-Commerce and industries and Director of Mines and Geology saying that the matter should be resolved as it is violates orders of the Karnataka High Court.

The MSPL letter says that-“ Till date they have mined over three million tonnes of iron ore from our part of the land, valued at approximately Rs. 500 crore. Reddy brothers and officials share the spoils of this. The Government machinery has turned a blind eye to the entire episode and has also been harassing our officers and staff without a valid reason. Every day nearly 15,000 tonnes of ore is being illegally mined and transported from our lease area.”

S. Nagaraja, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests blatantly denied that his department has forwarded any reports to the State Government- Lokayukta in respect to mining irregularities which mentions about the border squabble, on leasing a land by the Obalapuram Mining Company between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Mr. Nagaraj said that a committee has been set up to dig deeper on the results of Lokayukta’s report. The question which can be raised at this point is that why was the BJP trying to avoid further investigations by the CBI if it wasn’t involved in the scandal of granting licenses or allowing mining. Mr. Ugrappa, Leader of opposition party, professes that the way these sessions were held in the Legislative Council made it clear that the BJP Government was holding this event for the Lok Sabha Polls. Senior member of Legislative Council M.C.Nanaiah suspects Chief Minister B.S.Yedyurappa’s claims that the BJP Government had not granted any license for mining ever since it came to power. But reports have a different story as it says that he has given permission for the same in eight such cases. There was a controversy as Former Minister C. Chenningappa was questioned as to why did he carry out a sting operation collecting minute details about 36 companies though the Lokayukta submitted its report. In these meetings KPCC decided to display failures of the BJP Government looking in the areas of administration, law and order and finances along with other important dimensions. On January 23^rd, 2009 the meeting to resolve this issue was adjourned by Assembly Speaker Jagadish Shettar and Council Chairman Veeranna Mathikatti with the leaders of the ruling party and Opposition parties. The opposition party was adamant on the fact that their demand for a CBI Inspection should be considered. Even if prolonged meetings and talks have not been able to come up with a concrete solution, we can only wait as always has been the case.