Bellary Mining Scam - Scam Of The Century.

 

Will our country ever come out of scams? There is a scam in every single step in this nation. Bhopal Gas Scam, Bofors scams, IPL Scams, Flood relief fund scam etc.

From past several weeks the issue of illegal mining in Karnataka has been rocking both the Houses. The political parties have insisted that nothing short of a CBI enquiry would bring out the truth on illegal mining, as it involved inter-state and international operations in view of the large-scale export of iron ore.

Last week in Karnataka the opposition political party members stayed in the Assembly overnight, sleeping in the lobby, with no let-up in their demand for a CBI enquiry into what Leader of the Opposition termed a “Rs 20,000 crore scam”.

The government, in its reply to a debate on illegal mining in the Assembly admitted that over three crore tonnes of iron ore was illegally shipped from ports of the state in the past seven years, including over one crore tonnes in the last two years. In the legislative Council, protesting Opposition members wrapped black stoles around their necks seeking a CBI probe into illegal mining and staged a dharna and the House was also adjourned for the day.

Investigating the multi-crore illegal mining scam in Karnataka will not be an easy task for any investigative agency. Amidst the political blame game over the issue, people are still in the dark about who is responsible for the scam. According to the reliable sources, When one calculates the amount that is being mined from the 45 mines (1.80 lakh tonnes per day), which are handled by raising contractors, it shows that they earn Rs 39 crore per day.

Karnataka Advocate General Ashok Harnahalli, pointed out that raising contracts are the biggest hindrance to this probe and that there is a need to ban it immediately. Documents reveal that out of the 80 odd mining leases in the Bellary region, at least 45 are raising contracts.

Raising contract is an agreement between a mine owner and a third party. Once a person is issued a mining contract he is approached by a third person, who in turn offers to carry out the mining activity on his behalf.

After exclusion of duty, taxes and other expenditure, the raising contractor is left with Rs 17 crore per day as profit, of which he parts with 20 per cent to the mine owner. While this is what they earn legally, there is also the added money that is being earned through illegal mining, which preliminary reports suggest could be twice the amount. The money earned from illegal mining goes directly into their pockets and there is only the cost of labour and transport that they have to shell out.

Really it’s shame on our politics. The manner mining mafia deals; it is open challenge to State and Central Government. Instead of blaming each other, wasting time & our precious natural resources our government should follow the NLC (Neyveli Lignite Corporation) which is totally under Central Government and undertakes Mining operation of Lignite in Neyveli and produces Thermal power from it and Fertiliser from by products of Lignite. NLC gives jobs to around twenty thousand people in its two mines, thermal power station, Fertilzer plant and on administration work. All the labours & officers live in planned township.

Bellary mines can be nationalised by Central Government and suitable Industries to use the iron ore can be developed to avoid illegal export and develop employment & generate revenue to the government.

Immediately a detailed review is needed of all the private mining projects in our country to prevent illegal exploitation of natural resources, corruption, deforestation etc. It is high time for the Centre to wake up soon to a very serious issue and take appropriate, sensible and effective measures & decisions in national interest.

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