The Hindu : Karnataka News : Six Bellary mining companies booked

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Karnataka

Karnataka

Six Bellary mining companies booked

Staff Correspondent

Forest Department has charged them with encroachment

Machineries and consignments seized during raids
Cases booked based on Lokayukta’s report on mining

BELLARY: The Forest Department has registered forest offence cases against six mining companies in Bellary district for allegedly encroaching the forest land for the purpose of extracting iron ore illegally. These six cases, booked during the week, are in addition to the nine cases booked against different mining companies in the district in May 2008 taking the total to 15.

The mining companies, against which forest offence cases have been booked, include those that are owned by the Lad brothers, of whom Anil Lad is a member of the Rajya Sabha and Santosh Lad, MLA representing Kalghatgi, B.S. Anand Singh, Vijayanagar MLA, and also of a former MP late Veerbhadrappa.

The action by the Forest Department came in the wake of recommendations made by Lokayukta, who investigated the alleged illegal mining activities in Karnataka and submitted a detailed report. Of 99 mining leases listed in the Lokayukta report, 80 mining leases are on forest land, of which 58 are shown as having encroached the forest land, according to Muthaiah, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Bellary Division.

Mr. Muthaiah told presspersons here on Saturday that action was initiated against 15 mining companies (six during the week and nine in May 2008) based on the surveyed sketches/maps which were made available by the Lokayukta. The machineries and minerals on the spot were seized besides giving instructions to stop the mining activities immediately.

The process is on

Booking of cases would continue against the remaining 42 mining companies, accused of encroaching the forest land, as and when the survey sketches and maps were made available by the Lokayukta. The following was the list of mining companies against whom cases have been booked. Bharat Mines and Minerals, Bellary; Hothur Traders, Bellary; Tungabhadra Minerals, Hospet; Nadeem Minerals, Bangalore; Ambika Ghorpade, Ms. Chougale Mining Company; Deccan Mining Syndicate; Lakshminaryana Mining Co; Ramghad Minerals and Mining (mining lease no.2451); Ramghad Minerals and Mining (mining lease no. 622); H.G. Ranganagouda mines; S.B. Minerals, V.S. Lad and Sons, Sandur; Veerbhadrappa Sangappa and Co, and J.M. Vrishabendraiah.

Mr. Muthaiah said that during the investigation that would follow, assessment of the extent of ore that was mined from the encroached land would be made besides calculating the value and the loss caused to the State exchequer.

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