The Hindu : Karnataka News : Mine owner complains to Lokayukta

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Saturday, Jan 09, 2010
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Mine owner complains to Lokayukta

Staff Correspondent

BELLARY: In total disregard of orders issued by the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) to suspend mining activities in a few mines, business is on as usual.

Added to this, the officials have issued permits afresh, for dispatching iron ore from mines that had been asked to suspend operations. A complaint to this effect has been filed by Tapal Ganesh, a mine owner in Bellary, before the Lokayukta. Mr. Ganesh, who has been fighting against illegal mining and also against the encroachment of areas belonging to the State on the inter-State border, has accused the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Bellary, the Deputy Director of Mines and Geology, Hospet, and the Range Forest Officer of Bellary, of not only turning a blind eye to the illegal mining activities being carried out in violation of the IBM order, but also for issuing fresh permits to transport iron ore from mines that have been asked to suspend operations. Mr. Ganesh has drawn the attention of the Lokayukta that iron ore dispatches were continuing, even after the orders of suspending the mining activities.

Enclosing copies of the permits issued by the two departments, as well as copies of the orders issued by IBM, along with his complaint to substantiate his charge, Mr. Ganesh has accused the Deputy Conservator of Forests of issuing permits on January 6, 2010 allowing the transportation of iron ore from MBT mines to Krishnapattnam in Andhra Pradesh.

The Deputy Director of the Mines and Geology Department has also been charged with not withholding the permits already issued by the department.

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