The first thing Lokayukta justice N Santhosh Hegde will demand is adequate protection for his officers before beginning the inquiry into the illegal mining entrusted to him.
Justice Hegde told reporters in Hubli on Tuesday, he had received the government order on entrusting inquiry on illegal mining between 2000 and 2010 to Lok Ayukta on Monday. “I will get back to Bangalore tomorrow. And, before beginning the inquiry my first task would be to seek adequate protection for my officers,” he said.
Lokayukta said, he had taken up inquiry into the illegal mining from 2000 to December 2008. Now, he had to look into the illegal mining issue over the next two years. He clarified that his inquiry would include even the illegal export of iron ore not only from the Belakeri port, but also from various ports in Andhra Pradesh, including Vishakhapattanam and Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu. “We will seek details on the extent of iron ore exports from the port officials. Usually, they give. If they don’t, we will seek it through the Union Government,” he said.
When asked of some politicians and ministers giving a clean chit to themselves on illegal mining, justice Hegde said, “In my first report I mentioned illegal mining by 49 companies and about illegal mining taken up by ‘benami’ firms. The inquiry would mean investigating into who were running those ‘benami’ firms and how much mineral wealth they had exploited illegally.”
Justice Hegde said, the iron ore-laden trucks had to pass through seven check posts from Bellary district to Karwar port. “When we seized the iron ore illegally transported to Belakeri port, there was nothing to suggest they had been stopped and checked at the check posts. A truck owner or a firm can’t ensure such a free passage. You might assume what sort of high influence is required to get that done and the persons behind it,” he said without naming anybody.
He said, although the court had prevented MSIL from taking up raising contract, the other mining companies were doing it in Bellary and other areas. The raising contract was illegal as per law, he said. Raising contracts are agreements between the holder of a mining lease and a contractor, entrusting the work of carrying out mining and selling the minerals or using them on payment of a premium or a consideration to the holder of the mining lease.
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The Lok Ayukta said he was against nationalisation of mines but said that the government should put a ban on export of iron ore as it would only deplete the treasure of natural resources and the government would also hardly get benefited.
“Instead industries making use of the iron ore for manufacturing various products should be encouraged. It will get more revenue to both the union and state governments apart from providing employment to the local people”, he said.
Refuting reports in a section of the media that Lok Ayukta was not in favour of CBI inquiry, Justice Hegde clarified that he had no objection to handing over the case to CBI.
On whether CBI inquiry would be better on the illegal mining, Justice Hegde said since Andhra Pradesh had already given permission for CBI inquiry the AP Police would give necessary assistance to the CBI. However the CBI had to take permission from every state that was involved in one or the other way in illegal mining before taking up investigation, which would hinder the inquiry.
To a query, Justice Hegde said that the state government had assured him that action would be taken against the corrupt officials and also it would act on his demands with regard to strengthening the Lok Ayukta. “While it has acted on few issues, there are many which are yet to be addressed,” he said.