The Hindu Business Line : Karnataka CM favours nationalisation of mining

The Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr H.D. Kumaraswamy on Saturday favoured nationalisation of mining to protect environment and forest resources from degradation.

Talking to media persons here after releasing a cassette `Heat in Dust' a short documentary produced by two senior television journalists on mining in Bellary, Mr Kumaraswamy said he would be meeting the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh to impress upon him the ill effects of mining on environment and ask him to check it. He had also written a letter to Dr Singh earlier in April, he said.

He said the eco system had been totally destroyed through illegal mining and said abuse of environment for commercial purposes to make only a few people prosperous should never be allowed. He favoured a national debate on nationalisation of mining.

On the ongoing controversy over illegal mining in Bellary district, Mr Kumaraswamy regretted that the Andhra Pradesh Government had not been cooperative in stopping of the activities. Though there was a High Court order in 1988 in this regard, illegal mining continued unabated and the Andhra Pradesh Government had not initiated any action, he said.

He said several department officials had colluded to allow illegal mining in the district to queer the pitch and he added that he would initiate enquiries into it.

He reiterated his complaint against the Centre for not being responsive to Karnataka's requests for relief and said while in the case of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, the Centre was quick to extend a flood relief, it was yet to respond to providing relief to flood victims in Karnataka.

Mr Kumaraswamy had recently led an all-party delegation to submit a request for a relief of Rs 906 crore for damages caused by floods in the State.

More Stories on : Mining & Quarrying | Environment | Karnataka

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