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Speech of Shri Ananth Kumar about Illegal Mining
Brief Talking Points from the Speech of Shri Ananth Kumar in the Lok Sabha on 17th August, 2010 during the Discussion under Rule 193 on Illegal Mining
Shri Ananth Kumar drew the attention of the House to the existing rampant illegal mining in the country and said this menace could be brought in check by two initiatives – both which have been implemented by the Shri B S Yeddyurappa led BJP Government in Karnataka, namely
- Banning of the iron ore export from Karnataka from all the ports of Karnataka
- Recommendation of Mining Leases will be made by the State Government only for cases where there is Value Addition in the State
Shri B S Yeddyurappa has also requested the Hon’ble PM to ban all exports so as to preserve the mineral resources of the country.
Shri Ananth Kumar said that the proposed Amendment to the MMDR Act, to be considered by the Rajya Sabha, and after their passing, in the Lok Sabha, was only related to the mining of coal.
He mentioned that during his tenure as the Chairman of the Standing Committee of Coal & Steel, the Committee had examined the issue of Illegal Mining and had submitted the 19th Report in August, 2006. While examining the Officers of the Ministry of Mines they had said that the framing of laws for prevention of illegal mining is the Jurisdiction of the Central Government. Hence the solution for this was to allocate mining leases only to value addition made within the country and to ban export.
He urged the Union Minister Shri B K Handique, to therefore, make this a Comprehensive Bill covering all minerals and assured the support of the BJP if it includes the Banning of Exports and the further Sanction of Mining Leases only for Value Addition purpose within the Country. He also requested the entire House to support such legislation.
Going to the core issue of the reasons for illegal mining, and subsequent transport and export of such minerals he said there is a process by which the Union Government accords sanctions to mining leases after due diligence by the Indian Bureau of Mines, and the Department of Mines. It is for the Union Government to approve the quantity and area of the mining activity to be undertaken and subsequently all activities are done under their supervision. The Ministry of Environment & Forests also has to give its clearance to the plan and also has to monitor the mining activities. After the ore is mined it is taken to any port and the Customs have to clear the consignments for export. Therefore the Union Government and its agencies have the sole responsibility to Sanction and monitor the mining activity and keep a check on the exports.
Shri Ananth Kumar also pointed out the statistics of illegal mining activity during the previous Governments in Karnataka and said that illegal mining had been in happening during the tenure of the Congress Chief Ministers Shri S M Krishna and later Shri Dharam Singh who were supported by the JD(S) headed by Shri Deve Gowda. The following table was read out to the House
Shri Ananth Kumar also pointed out to the recommendations made by the various Governments of Karnataka for mining leases as in the table below
| Sh. S M Krishna | Sh. Dharam Singh | Sh. H D K | Sh. BSY | |
| Period
|
1999 – 2004 | 28.05.2004
To 02.02.2006 |
02.02.2006
To 09.10.2007 |
May 2008
Till date |
| No of cases recommended to GOI | 16 | 42 | 44 | 23 |
| Total area in Hectares | 2,048.07 | 2,964.29 | 8,042.30 | 991.83 |
The Hon’ble Lokayukta of Karnataka investigated and reported into the mining activity in the State of Karnataka for the period up to 2008 and recommended action against a number of cases – many of these were either Congress MLAs or Office Bearers or their relatives. Shri Rahul Gandhi on his visit to Karnataka two days ago had said that people involved in illegal mining should be taken action against – so would the Congress Party led by Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Shri Rahul Gandhi take action against their own MLAs in the state and elsewhere?
On 6th October, 2007, the BJP withdrew support to the Shri H D Kumaraswamy Government in Karnataka. Shri Kumaraswamy Government recommended mining leases even after he came into a minority. On the other hand Shri B S Yeddyurappa Government requested the Hon’ble Lokayukta to enquire into the cases up to 2010 including his own tenure.
The BJP rejects the demand for a CBI investigation because the CBI has become the Congress Bureau of Investigation and the ruling UPA is using the CBI for political purposes only whether it is Gujarat, or with reference to Shri Mulayam Singh Yadav, Shri Lalu Prasad Yadav or Kum. Mayavati. They have also used the CBI against Dr. J Jayalalitha in Tamil Nadu.
Therefore BJP has more faith in the Karnataka Lokayukta Hon’ble Justice Santosh Hegde who is a righteous and retired Judge of the Hon’ble Supreme Court to conduct a fair and impartial enquiry than the CBI.
Reiterating once again the support of the BJP to the complete ban of exports of minerals and to value addition, Shri Ananth Kumar urged the Union Government to take necessary action in this matter.
Ananth Kumar visit to London :
- As a Minister
Tourism, Culture Minister, Urban developement & Poverty alleviation, Civil Aviation Minister, Sports and Youth Affairs
- As a Parlimentarian
MPLAD, In Parliment
- International Airport
- Metro
- 100 Crores support BMP
- Housing
- ABIDe
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