Stop illegal mining, Jairam Ramesh tells B S Yeddyurappa

NEW DELHI: Karnataka government’s seriousness to take on the issue of illegal mining and corruption in the state is under test. After Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde withdrew his resignation, the pressure is on the state government to walk the talk.

On the heels of Justice Hegde’s decision to reconsider his resignation, environment minister Jairam Ramesh in a letter to Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa drew attention to continued mining activities in the forest area of Sandur near Bellary. This is “in complete violation of the Forest Advisory Committee resolution of May 10, 2010, which clearly and explicitly directed that such mining be stopped,” Mr Ramesh said in his letter.

The environment minister has asked the Karnataka chief minister to implement the course of action recommended by FAC to put an end to the illegal mining being undertaken by three mine owners — S B Minerals, Trident Minerals and Veeyam Minerals. Detailing the action that needs to be taken, Mr Ramesh has requested that these steps be implemented and an Action Taken Report be sent to the ministry by July 10.

The Forest Advisory Committee had recommended that the state government should take up a survey and demarcate the area designated under the mining licence.