The Hindu : Karnataka News : Stern action to recover excise arrears of over Rs. 630 crores

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 01, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

Stern action to recover excise arrears of over Rs. 630 crores

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, MARCH 31. The State Government has recovered only Rs. 1.86 crores in excise contract dues from defaulters, and Rs. 630.4 crores is outstanding, the Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, said in the Legislative Council today.

He told Balakrishna Bhat (Bharatiya Janata Party) that action for recovery is being taken under the Karnataka Land Revenue Act by the department. The Karasamadhana scheme has also been introduced, he said. Of the dues, Rs. 630 crores have accumulated over 30 years, he added.

Problems

Mr. Siddaramaiah said a major problem in the recovery process is that many defaulters have died, and some others, who have obtained contracts in "benami" names, are reluctant to disclose their dues. The department will leave no stone unturned to recover the dues once the deadline for the Karsamadhane scheme ends, he said.

Mining law

The Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, today said that illegal mining in forest areas and reserve forests is going on, and the Government is thinking of introducing a comprehensive law against it.

He told Basavaraj S. Bommai (Janata Dal-United) that the Government is seeking clearances from the Centre for ensuring that mining leases are given to parties that are above board. The movement of overloaded trucks within restricted areas is being strictly monitored, he said.

He said that in Bellary district, 97 mining leases have been sanctioned for iron ore, manganese, white quartz and soapstone, and the area sanctioned for mining is 16,972.01 hectares.

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