Karnataka govt finalises contents of report on illegal mining

After three days of hectic consultations, the Karnataka Government today finalised the contents of its report on illegal mining to be submitted to the Supreme Court.

The state is expected to submit its report to the Supreme Court on April 20 on issues raised by the apex court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) which probed into the illegal mining in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

The draft was given final touches at a high-level meeting convened by state chief secretary SV Ranaganath, official sources said, adding that advocate general Ashok Haranahalli was present at the meeting.

Chief minister BS Yeddyurappa would be briefed tomorrow on details of the report, they said.

The CEC in its interim report to the Supreme Court has found large-scale illegal mining in Karnataka, particularly in Bellary forest region, in connivance with officials and politicians.

Concerned over the report, the chief minister had began consultations with top officials to present the state's view on illegal mining and also the steps his government had taken in the last three years to curb the menace.

The state government would abide by the Supreme Court directions to curb illegal mining, Yeddyurappa had said.