Illegal mining: Court moved for recovering value of minerals

The Supreme Court has been moved for a direction to the Union and Karnataka governments to recover the value of minerals excavated through illegal mining, approximately valued at Rs. 1,50,000 crore, with penalty and interest, from all those indicted by the Lokayukta.

Advocate Manohar Lal Sharma, in a public interest writ petition, said the Lokayukta had indicted the former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, former Chief Ministers, other Ministers and bureaucrats responsible for the illegal mining during 2006-2011.

Besides praying for a CBI probe, he said action should be taken under the provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. The Centre and Karnataka had not taken any steps in this regard, he alleged.