Bangalore: The ruling BJP in Karnataka on Monday
sought to turn the heat on Congress and JDS over the raging
illegal mining issue by releasing a booklet on the "mess".
Titled "Who is responsible for the mining mess in
Karnataka?" it noted that based on the report of the Supreme
Court appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC), the apex
court had recently ordered suspension of 19 mining leases.
"It is pertinent to note that all the 19 cases pertain to
the periods of previous Congress and JDS governments and not
even a single recommendation for mining lease during the
present BJP government", according to the booklet, released at
a press conference by BJP leader DB Chandre Gowda, also a Lok
Sabha member.
Noting that the Supreme Court on May six ordered joint
inspection of 99 mining licenses to ascertain whether any
illegal mining had taken place outside their leased area, it
said not even one of them were granted during the BJP
government`s tenure.
The BJP charged Karnataka witnessed the birth and growth of
"mining lobbies" both for granite and iron ore during the
regimes of Congress and JDS governments.
"Both these parties have actively and patiently encouraged
the mining mafia and have given a fillip to illegal mining
with active collusion of corrupt officers positioned by
the then governments", the party alleged.
It was during the period of the then Chief Minister N Dharam
Singh that the decision was taken to allow movement of iron
ore dumped illegally on "patta" lands by issuing despatch
permits, it said.
"This was an extremely damaging decision which the Congress
Chief Minister took despite the then Secretary of the
Department informing clearly that the sanction of patta lands
and transport of such ore is against the law", the booklet
said.
Despite this, Dharam Singh ordered issue of permits, it
said, adding Karnataka Lokayukta has held this action was
against public interest and unlawful and had recommended
recovery from Dharam Singh of loss caused to the Government of
Rs 23.22 crore.
BJP said the then Governor Rameshwar Thakur who was
appointed by the Congress-led government at the Centre, passed
orders to drop the case against Dharam Singh citing "flimsy"
grounds.
"The state government was not even consulted before the
Governor took such a decision. Very conveniently, the Congress
Governor decides to drop the case against a Congress Chief
Minister despite written recommendation of an independent
agency like the Lokayukta!" the party said.
PTI
