Illicit mining: Karnataka CM in damage control mode as SC awaits reply

The interim report of the central empowered committee (CEC) appointed by the Supreme Court to look into illegal iron ore mining in Karnataka has clearly rattled chief minister B S Yeddyurappa.

Required by the apex court to submit a reply by 21 April, Yeddyurappa held a series of meetings with senior officials over the weekend. The meetings were presided over by chief secretary S V Ranganath, with senior officials from the mines and geology, forest, and other departments in attendance.

The CEC in its report submitted on Friday had estimated that iron ore worth more than Rs15,000 crore has been illegally exported from the state from 2003-04 to 2009-10.

Reportedly, the CEC has made a list of illegal mines, and even the names of some officials involved. There are nearly 25 mines in Sandur taluk in Bellary district bordering Karnataka where the permissions for mining given under the Forest Conservation Act and under the Minor Minerals Act do not tally.

For instance, if permission for mining was granted for 20 acres, the licence holders had encroached on 40 acres or more, the CEC said.

Bellary is in the thick of the illegal mining controversy, with the now infamous Reddy brothers, Karunakaran and Janardhana, being major mine owners along with their cohorts. Both the brothers are ministers in Yeddyurappa's cabinet.