Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today reiterated that his government will not allow export of iron ore at any cost and issue mining leases only for value addition.
“I will go up to the Supreme Court to make the stand of my government clear and continue to impose the ban,” he said.
Addressing a press conference, here, he said the BJP government, in the last two years, had not issued any fresh mining leases, but renewed some of the old ones as recommended by the previous governments. “Once the Centre clears, it becomes inevitable for the state government to issue necessary notifications,” the chief minister added.
“Our government has recommended issue of mining licence in respect of two cases, that too for only value addition in accordance with the new mining policy. Of these cases, one is the state owned Hutti Gold Mines Ltd and the other one is Sushilamma and Company who are already into mining and has the licence for extracting manganese ore,” he said in response to allegations made by oppostion parties that his government had issued fresh mining leases.
Yeddyurappa said he would once again urge upon the Prime Minister to convene a meeting of mineral-rich states to consider imposing ban on export of raw iron ore. “I have met the Prime Minister and submitted a memorandum in this regard.”
He also asked the prime minister to allow the state government to ban export of iron ore for one year, so that he could give details on the extent of illegal movement of iron ore.
“Our government is not opposed to mining. We are not for imposing a total ban on mining either. We are only against export of raw iron ore. We are in favour of finished goods exports, which in turn will help our economy grow.”
Further, Yeddyurappa said he has evidence against the ministers in previous JDS and Congress governments who were involved in illegal export of iron ore and the details would be provided to the Lokayukta for further investigation. “The Congress leaders have misled the media as well as the people of the state by furnishing partial information and hiding certain facts pertaining to recommendations made to the Centre for issuing mining leases by them.”
He said 45 companies were involved in illegal export of iron ore to China from Belekeri port and the state Criminal Investigation Department has filed chargesheet against 55 persons. The government will strengthen the hands of the Lokayukta by appointing one more Upa Lokayukta.
According to Yeddyurappa, during the last two years his government has issued notification for renewal of mining leases to eight companies and permitted only two companies to carry out mining following the submission of relevant documents.
