The Supreme Court on Monday sought reply from the Centre, and others on a petition seeking implementations of the directions given by a state Lokayukta which pointed out large-scale illegal mining activities in the forest areas of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
A special forest Bench headed by Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan issued notice to the Centre, the governments of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) on a petition alleging large-scale corruption and profiteering through illegal mining. Samaj Parivartana Samudaya, an NGO, in its petition said that illegal mining ranging from encroachment, mining without permits and clearances, mining outside permitted areas and quantity and illegal transportation of minerals was going on in the states.
It said the governments should initiate action against illegal mining in Bellary district and in areas along the Karnataka-AP border. K?taka Lokayukta in its report said the state had given permits to applicants who are not lessees and the ore or mineral for which transport permits were issued were not mined.
It further said that it was impossible to collect 5,06,970 tonnes of iron ore without engaging in large-scale mining operations.