After a nine-month survey and demarcation of mining areas in three mineral-rich districts of Bellary, Chitradurga and Tumkur; the Supreme Court-constituted Central Empowered Committee (CEC) investigating illegal mining in the state, is likely to submit its final report to the apex court on Monday.
The final report is believed to contain significant recommendations that would decide the future of once-powerful iron ore mining lobby in the state. One of the most important suggestions is auctioning of mining leases that had been recommended for cancellation by CEC for illegalities.
Highly placed sources working closely with the committee told this newspaper that the CEC is seriously considering auctioning of natural resources, instead of inviting applications for fresh allocation of the cancelled mining leases. “CEC authorities believe that international bidding of iron ore mines in the three districts would fetch nearly `50,000 crore for the state’s exchequer and also promote value-added projects in the region,” the sources said.
Of the 117 mining leases in Bellary, only 16 have been found not involved in illegal mining. Three mines in Chitradurga and two in Tumkur have also been categorised under “A” group, they said.
Mines which have been put under the “B” category will be penalised minimum five times the market value of the ore extracted illegally and will be allowed to resume mining operations after reclamation and rehabilitation of the illegally mining devastated areas. The seven mining leases along the disputed border of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in the Bellary Reserve Forest area have been categorised under “B-1”, recommending for suspension of mining till an amicable solution to the disputed area is found by the two states. The sources said the Central Empowered Committee final report contains interesting points in survey and demarcation of complicated disputes.
In one particular case, for deciding a five-decade-long boundary dispute between M/s MSPL, M/s SB Minerals (ML No: 2515) and M/s Shantha Lakshmi Jayram in Vyasanakere village in Hospet, the CEC had to dig out historic records to settle the dispute.
According to the Central Empowered Committee proceedings dated January 24, Tippan(land record during British era) of 1884 showing a sketch with measurements was considered to resolve the boundary row.