By IANS,
Bangalore: Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa said Wednesday there has been largescale illegal mining in Karnataka in the last 10 years and in 2007-08 alone, 4.7 million tonnes of iron ore was exported from the state without a license.
The chief minister’s startling revelation of the extent of illegal mining came in response to a ruckus in the assembly for the second successive day Wednesday over the opposition’s demand for an adjournment motion on the resignation of Lok Ayukta (ombudsman) N. Santosh Hegde.
Pleading with the opposition Congress and Janata Dal-Secular parties not to insist on an adjournement motion, Yeddyurappa said his government was ready for a probe into illegal mining in the state.
“Let there be a comprehensive enquiry. Those who indulge in illegal mining should be punished. We will not side with anybody,” he asserted as opposition parties upped the ante in the house, demanding his resignation.
Yeddyurappa said the government will soon file a detailed affidavit in the Karnataka High Court, where a public suit has been filed, seeking a thorough probe into illegal mining in the state.
Santosh Hegde, a retired Surpeme Court judge, quit June 23 saying that 500,000 tonnes of about 800,000 tonnes of illegally mined iron ore stored at Belekeri port and seized by the authorities had been exported.
He had said the scam could involve up to 5 million tonnes of illegally mined ore being exported from the port. In terms of money, it would be around Rs.2,500 crore (Rs.25 billion), he said.
Yeddyurappa’s plea and readiness for a thorough probe into illegal mining did not satisfy Congress and JD-S members who stalled proceedings in the assembly by trooping near the speaker’s podium and raising slogans.
Speaker K.G. Bopaiah has agreed to allow a discussion on Hegde’s resignation but rejected permitting moving an adjournment motion.
With his repeated pleas going unheeded, he adjourned the house for the day.