BELLARY: Steps taken to curb illegal mining in the district were discussed at a meeting at the Deputy Commissioner's office here on Thursday.

It was convened at the behest of B. Sriramulu, Minister for Tourism and Textiles, who is also the district in-charge Minister, following reports of large-scale illegal mining in Bellary district and the Legislative Assembly discussing it recently.

Mr. Sriramulu told presspersons that he had instructed officials of all departments concerned to take immediate steps to prevent illegal mining in the district.

"There have been many reports of illegal mining in the district. Our aim is to prevent it and I have told the officials of the departments concerned to work sincerely in this regard," the Minister said.

The Minister said stress was laid on conducting a joint survey of the areas given on lease for mining, monitoring the extraction of ore and its transportation.

This was to ascertain the production level and to ensure that ore transportation was within the permitted limit.

He said that the Police Department had set up check-posts at six points to curb transportation of ore extracted illegally.

Report sought

Mr. Sriramulu said officials of the Revenue, Mines and Geology and Forests departments had been asked to take up survey of their respective areas, and also conduct joint survey wherever necessary and submit a report within a fortnight. Based on the report, action would be initiated against mine owners who were extracting ore in excess of the upper limit fixed and those mining in areas not leased out or from land that belonged to others.

The Minister instructed the Department of Mines and Geology not to issue permits beyond the fixed quota for extraction of ore. Similarly, the Railways had been asked to check the permits before taking up transportation of ore.

Staff shortage

Mr. Sriramulu said that the Department of Mines and Geology was understaffed. He would urge the Chief Minister to depute more staff to ensure that illegal mining activities were curbed.

With regard to extracting ore from private land, Mr. Sriramulu said that he would take up the matter with the Chief Minister with a request that the owner of the land be permitted to take up digging and extract the ore. (The ore extracted from the farmland is in much demand for producing sponge iron).

On repair of the road between Bellary and Hospet (National Highway 63), which was damaged due to heavy movement of mine lorries, G. Karunakar Reddy, MP, said Rs. 30 crores was sanctioned for repairing the stretch between Hospet and Andhra Pradesh border. In addition, the Union Ministry of Surface Transport had approved the proposal to convert the stretch into a four-lane road in view of the heavy traffic.

G. Janardhan Reddy, president of the BJP district unit, and officials of various departments attended the meeting.

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