The Supreme Court on Friday asked its central empowered committee (CEC) to enquire into allegations of mining irregularities by Jindal Steel and Adani Enterprises, based on the Karnataka Lokayukta report. Once the committee reports to the court, the matter may be sent to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for further investigation.
However, in a statement, Adani Enterprises clarified it had no iron ore mine in Karnataka or anywhere else in the country. It said it did not have any interest in iron ore, except rendering port services to exporters/miners of the ore.
The ‘forest bench’, headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia, passed the order on an application moved by Parivartan, a voluntary organisation, when the court was hearing the case involving illegal mining and export of iron ore from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The court had earlier banned mining in Bellary, Chitradurga and Tumkur districts of Karnataka.
The committee has to give its status report by January 15.
CBI on Friday handed over two status reports in sealed covers to the court. The reports pertain to illegal mining by Obalapuram Mining Company (OMC) in Andhra Pradesh and Associated Mining Company (AMC) in Karnataka. The companies are owned by the Reddy brothers, who are considered political heavyweights in the state. The reports also cover the role of the Deccan Mining Syndicate.
CBI told the court that the probe into the OMC case was over, and that a charge sheet would be filed by December 4. The probe into the AMC and the Deccan Mining Syndicate cases is being carried out on a day-to-day basis. A status report on this would be filed by January 15, 2012.
The Indian Council of Forest Research and Education on Friday filed status reports regarding the damage caused by illegal mining in the three districts of Karnataka. The court has asked the CEC to examine these reports and give its opinion for follow-up action, especially that concerning restoring the ecology of the area.
The court indicated it would take up the plea for lifting the stay on companies that excavate minerals other than iron ore on December 2. The court was firm in not hearing the complaints of individual companies and declared it would look only into the aspect of restoring the ecological balance, considering the fundamental rights of the people.
