Mangalore : Lokayukta Justice Santhosh Hegde, speaking to media representatives at the discussion organized by Media Study Centre at Sahodaya on Jan 8, Saturday said that Nine months later, the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee on Friday indicted the Reddy brothers in the illegal mining scam holding them guilty of violating the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border and recommended cancellation of their mining leases.
He also said that, the 2008 Lokayukta report on illegal mining had made similar observations regarding rampant illegal mining in Bellary district and violation of AP-Karnataka border by the Reddy brothers. The principal investigator in the mining scam — Dr U.V. Singh had stated that there was sufficient evidence of Reddy brothers’ involvement in the illegal mining activities and violation of the AP-Karnataka border. He had observed that the inter-state boundaries among the Obulapuram villages in Karnataka did not exist on the ground.
He stressed that ban on export of mines should be strictly implemented as it is non re-generable resource which may last in coming 25 to 30 years if the same amount of mining extraction is continued.
There is raising contract in Karnataka which is against the law. In this procedure the land must be done in a persons name and be in his own control. The mining doing people are raising fund tracks. In this case the lorry drivers and truck drivers are given permit per trip and there will be the over taking of the trucks and causes many incidents and also create traffic jams.
According to the report OMC is engaged in the mining activity in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, across Karnataka state border of Bellary district.
It also states that the OMC has encroached the forest area of Karnataka, undertaken illegal mining activity, and transported iron ore and that Supreme Court must take strict action against it.