DHNS reported that the Central Empowered Committee, undertaking survey and demarcation work in areas leased for mining in three districts, has sought direction from the Supreme Court for extension of the CBI probe into alleged illegalities in leases given for iron ore extraction in Karnataka.
In a fresh report filed in the apex court, it said the CBI probe being carried out in Bellary Reserve Forest of Anantpur district in Andhra Pradesh should also be extended to cover the illegalities committed by Associated Mining Company and by some third parties in leases granted to NMDC.
The report said “The CEC is firmly of the view that the CBI which is presently carrying out investigation regarding illegal mining from the mining leases in Bellary Reserve Forest in Andhra Pradesh and associated issues may be asked to investigate and take appropriate follow up action in respect of the illegalities pertaining to the mining lease of AMC and also regarding the illegal mining done within the lease of NMDC by third parties and linkages with the iron ore shown to have been legally produced and transported from mining leases.”
The CEC found that the AMC in Bellary had extracted 1 million tonne iron ore when the leased area did not have so much ore. The AMC allegedly abused transport permits from the lease to illegally ferry iron ore from other locations.
The CEC report substantiates former Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde's report on AMC. Janardhana Reddy and his wife became owners of the AMC in August 2009.
The CEC report contradicts the assertions of the then Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa that the Reddys had no mining activity in the state and that no action could be taken by the government.
The mining lease of AMC was effectively transferred to former state Tourism minister Mr G Janaradan Reddy, already arrested by the CBI, and G Lakshmi Aruna from August 1, 2009 by adopting some dubious means.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court had last year ordered CBI probe into alleged illegal mining in the state.
(Sourced from DHNS and India Today)
