Illegal mining: K’taka shuts ore stockyards

“In fact the state government soon after the receipt of the first report of the Lokayukta,cancelled 61 such stockyards which were functioning without valid approvals,” Yedyurappa told Handique. Henceforth,stockyards will be allowed only for “lessees and genuine entrepreneurs” who engage in beneficiation of iron ore following a fresh review of the policy regarding stockyards,the chief minister wrote in his letter.

He said a Special Cell was being created in the state mines and gelology department comprising senior officers from it and also those from transport,forest,home and Indian Bureau of Mines to monitor price trends to undertake joint action on illegal mining activities. It would supervise coordinated efforts of both state government and the IBM on specific areas to combat the menace. “The state government is constituting 5 special teams comprising officials from Mines and Geology,Forest and Revenue to ensure joint survey of all the remaining lease held areas reported to have encroachments (as mentioned in the Lokayukta report) and also the leases pending for renewal with the state government,” he pointed out.

Yedyurappa also told Handique that his government has “agreed in principle to establish a special cell in the state police and detailed modalities were being worked out and this would become operational within a month’s time. The chief minister said 13 check posts have been established in strategic places ion the vicinity of the mining areas and ports which would undertake round the clock checking of vehicles ferrying iron ore. Teams of officials from forest,mines,transport and police have been constituted for manning them in three shifts.