MYSURU: Within hours of assuring a crackdown on illegal quarrying, chief minister BS Yediyurappa said on Saturday that mining and quarrying were inevitable for development and those in violation should regularise operations.
Before leaving for Shivamogga to visit the site of Thursday’s blast, the CM said such tragic incidents are caused by illegal quarrying and mining operations and these will not be tolerated in the state. “I will not allow illegal mining. Whoever wants to take up mining can do so only after obtaining a licence,” he said.
In Mysuru, he said: “We have ordered district officials to check illegal quarrying and mining activity, if any, across Karnataka. All those operating without licences will be given time to regularise the business or else stringent action will be taken against them.”
He added, “There are road works and highway projects for which mining and quarrying are needed. But illegal mining shouldn’t be allowed. It’s not good for anyone, including those doing it. They can submit an application to regularise and continue their activities. We have no objection. Every deputy commissioner will do a spot inspection and take an appropriate decision.”
Yediyurappa’s U-turn drew angry reactions from the opposition. “Isn’t illegal mining a crime? What’s the punishment for that? How can he talk of regularisation while being in a responsible position, especially when such illegality has claimed six innocent lives,” asked opposition leader and former CM Siddaramaiah. “Yediyurappa and Shivamogga incharge minister KS Eshwarappa must take the blame for allowing illegal quarrying in their home-district.” Shivamogga is also the CM’s home-district.
After visiting the site, Yediyurappa said a comprehensive probe had been ordered into the tragedy. “What caused the blast? Who gave permission for such a huge number of explosives to be transported? All these will be looked into and we will take action against those involved,” he said.
The body of the sixth worker killed in the blast was retrieved on Saturday. His identity is not yet known.
The CM said a forensic team from Hyderabad is examining the blast site and it will submit a report, based on which further action will be taken. “The crushers involved in the incident have permission only for stone crushing. Stone mining isn’t allowed. The guilty in the incident will be punished,” Yediyurappa said.
At the blast site, relatives of the deceased said they have little information and access. Samiullah, a relative of Javeed, who died in the blast, said he has come from Andhra Pradesh and is still in the dark about what exactly happened. The families, he said, are pleading with police for the early release of the bodies but no one has heard them.
Congress: Unauthorised mining has govt backing
Opposition leader in the assembly Siddaramaiah has accused the CM of supporting unauthorised mining in the state.
“The CM has asked people involved in illegal mining to apply for a licence. Can anyone, who is in a responsible post, make such statements? This shows illegal mining is happening in the state and it has the backing of the CM,” he said.
Referring to the recent blast, Siddaramaiah said gelatin and dynamites were brought from Andhra Pradesh without permission and stored recklessly. “The negligence of officers was evident,” he said. He also demandeda probe into BJP MLC Ayanuru Manjunath’s statement that illegal mining is happening in Shivamogga in more than 100 places. “The CM and district minister KS Eshwarappa should own responsibility for the blast,” he said. Eshwarappa had told officials to turn a blind eye towards illegal mining for the benefit of the district when the issue was raised at a meeting, he alleged. TNN
There are road works and highway projects for which mining and quarrying are needed. But illegal mining shouldn’t be allowed. It’s not good for anyone, including those doing it. They can submit an application to regularise and continue their activities. We have no objection. Every deputy commissioner will do a spot inspection and take an appropriate decision.
BS Yediyurappa | Chief minister