Final Report on Illegal Mining in Bellary
posted on Feb 7, 2012 @ 11:37AM
The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) appointed by Supreme Court of India to look in to the alleged illegal iron ore mining in Bellary in Karnataka has submitted its final report to the court. The CEC has divided mining leases into three categories A, B and C, based on the extent of compliance and recommended that 45 leases be allowed to resume mining operations, after following certain conditions.
As many as 49 leases, in which the extent of illegalities were found to be excessive, have been recommended for cancellation. Associated Mining Company owned by Gali Janardhan Reddy is also included in this list. The CEC also recommended for the suspension of seven mining leases in Obulapuram of Andhra Pradesh, till the AP-Karnataka border issue is resolved.
That 72 leases in category B for which the CEC has prescribed a reclamation and rehabilitation programme based on the ecological impact assessment report prepared by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE). Mining may be allowed to resume in category B and C leases after restoration efforts, to be undertaken by the state government through a special purpose vehicle headed by the chief secretary, are completed.
The CEC also recommended the payment of Rs. 5 crore per hectare for category C and Rs. 1 crore per hectare for category B as a penalty by lease holders involved in illegal mining. This could mean about Rs. 300 crore in revenue for the state government that would be used for rehabilitation. The Supreme Court’s forest bench is expected to take up the report at a hearing on Friday.
Video Source: tv9