The biggest ever investigation report in Karnataka’s history, submitted by the Lok Ayukta on illegal mining or iron ore in the state runs into 25,228 pages. It is modern-day Alibaba and the 40 Thieves.
The biggest ever investigation report in Karnataka’s history, submitted by the Lok Ayukta on illegal mining or iron ore in the state runs into 25,228 pages. It is modern-day Alibaba and the 40 Thieves. The only difference, however, is that the number of thieves in the Lok Ayukta's tale has swollen to over 800.
The 948-page main section of the report, with its annexures and documents, spans over 31 chapters. It was carried in two huge trunks: the first had 60 books, the second 33.
Apart from the chief minister, his four cabinet colleagues G Karunakara Reddy, G Janardhana Reddy, B Sriramulu and V Somanna, the report has also named 787 government officials ranging in rank from senior Indian Administrative Service officers and Indian Forest Service cadre, to lowly clerks.
The Lok Ayukta investigation team headed by deputy conservator of forests UV Singh, scanned over four lakh files and 50 lakh entries in various documents to come out with the report.
The Lok Ayukta has exposed illegalities and irregularities committed by several powerful politicians and top- ranking officials, in connection with the grant of mining leases, transport of iron ore, overloading of lorries, damage to roads due to plying of overloaded lorries, damage to environment and illegal shipment. The loss to the state exchequer is estimated at `16,085 crore, between 2006 and 2010.
“I want every one of those named to be prosecuted. I have recommended action against every one of them under various acts like the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Forest Act and the Indian Penal Code. The report has one exclusive chapter devoted to the state of affairs and administrative collapse in Bellary,” Lok Ayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde said, speaking to the media after submitting the report to the state government.
However, justice Hegde was candid in admitting that he had no hope that the state government would initiate action against the culprits. “But I have hope in the Supreme Court, which is monitoring illegal mining in Karnataka. They will take cognisance of this report which will be of great assistance,” Hegde said.
The Lok Ayukta expressed serious concern at the depletion of the state’s precious iron ore resources due to the greed of miners and politicians. The state’s iron ore reserves which were estimated to last for the next 20 to 30 years, now faces the threat of exhaustion much earlier.
“It is our duty to preserve the resources for future generations,” the Lok Ayukta said. Highlighting this, the report has also recommended a ban on iron ore export and suggested that the state compulsorily undertake value addition for iron ore, which would generate employment opportunities and ensure huge revenues for the government in the form of VAT and other taxes.
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