Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today said 20 squads are on the job to check illegal mining of iron ore and exports and rejected Opposition criticism that there is no let-up in the unlawful activity.
"13 joint squads have been activated. They are keeping a 24-hour vigil and discharging their duties," he told reporters here after a review meeting on the issue.
The special squad, formed by the State Government to check the transport and hoarding of illegal iron ore, has seized a huge quantity of mineral, stored in various private stockyards of Bellary district, claimed Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa.
He was addressing reporters here on Tuesday after a review meeting with the officials of the Forest, Revenue and Mining departments.
Under pressure from the Karnataka High Court to provide evidence of sincerity to tackle illegal mining in the state, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and Bellary district in charge minister G Janardhan Reddy on Tuesday held a rare brain storming session with officials to outline measures to curb illegal mining, especially in the iron ore rich Bellary region.
JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda has asked the UPA leadership to constitute a multi-agency special task force to investigate illegal mining in Bellary, claiming that the Commission of Inquiry ordered by the Centre was ineffective and inadequate to address this menace.
In separate letters to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, the former Prime Minister said the growing infl
Bellary: It was a resounding endorsement of the Reddy brothers, and a pat for herself.
Mincing no words, leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj at the mammoth BJP convention here on Friday gave a clean chit to the Reddy brothers on their mining business and credited her contesting the Lok Sabha polls for the Bellary seat in 1999 as a watershed event for the BJP in its growt
In Bellary, the Reddys have their way and say in everything. Be it mining or building the controverisal airport by taking over vast lands belonging to farmers
Wildlife enthusiasts in Bellary are worried at the sighting of an increasing number of Indian grey wolves found with their left fore leg limping, which they suspect could be due to some dreaded disease.
Experts split on possible cause for limping wolves.
