Samaj Parivartana Samudaya (SPS), a Dharwad-based non-Government organisation, has filed an Interlocutory Application (IA) before the Forest Bench of the Supreme Court with a prayer to direct the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to include all aspects of illegal mining in the district of Tumkur and Chitradurga districts, in addition to Bellary, in its report.
According to Mr S.R. Hiremath, President of SPS and Founder President of National Committee for Protection of Natural Resources (NCPNR), the IA has been filed before the Supreme Court on Monday.
Mr Hiremath said it was not that illegal mining is happening only in Bellary district, but illegal mining was equally rampant in the districts of Tumkur and Chitradurga.
SPS had urged the Supreme Court to direct for suspension of all mining and transportation of already mined ore in forest areas of Bellary, Tumkur and Chitradurga district of Karnataka and the Bellary Reserve Forest area of Andhra Pradesh.
SPS, in its IA before the Forest Bench of SC has asked for:
— the court to direct the CEC to submit a report into all aspects of illegal mining in Tumkur and Chitradurga districts.
— direct the CBI/ SIT investigation into all aspects relating to illegal mining and mining in forest areas.
— Has also requested the court to pass other or further orders as may be deemed fit and proper on the collusion of public servants and public representatives with the mine owners in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
The Supreme Court-appointed CEC is currently conducting survey of various mines in the district of Bellary and Andhra-Karnataka border and is assessing the extent of violation by the mining lease holding companies.
Mr Hiremath said that senior advocate and ‘Amicus Curiae' on the case Mr Shyam Divan had also emphasised the need for including the issue of illegal mining in other districts of Karnataka.
“With our IA filed along with an affidavit, we have submitted documents that would highlight the extent of illegal mining in these two districts,” he said