It is not clear, at the moment, if the e-auction procedure will be adopted and whether priority will be given to actual steel producers
The Central Empowered Committee (CEC), set up by the Supreme Court had conducted a survey of the mining areas in Karnataka and has given various suggestions to the government. The CEC, in its report to the Supreme Court had identified 51 mines with maximum illegalities in three districts of Bellary, Chitradurga and Tumakuru.
In the first Cabinet meeting of the Congress government, headed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, at Kalaburagi, on Friday, decided to submit a proposal to the Supreme Court, through the CEC, to auction 15 "C" category mines in the above districts.
The state government may be able to auction six mines between December 2014 and January 2015, subject to the approval of the apex court. The remaining nine mines would be taken up for auction during April-May 2015.
It is not clear at the moment whether the e-auction procedure will be adopted in this case and whether priority will be given to actual steel producers.
At the same time, the Cabinet also approved Rs2,000 crore to take up restoration of ecology and environment in the three districts mentioned before, as these were affected by the illegal mining activities. Here again, the proposal would be submitted to the Supreme Court for approval before implementation. It is hoped that the apex court will also give suitable direction in this regard.
It is reported that the responsibility for carrying out the implementation programme is likely to be entrusted to Karnataka Mining Restoration Corporation. The proposal is to strengthen the infrastructure such as transport, communication network, environment and forests, drinking water system, education, skill training and agricultural related activities. In doing so, priority will be given to Scheduled Castes and Tribes communities.
It is hoped that the related clearance formalities, land lease etc., issuance of permits for carrying out the mining operations etc. will be handled by all concerned expeditiously.
(AK Ramdas has worked with the Engineering Export Promotion Council of the ministry of commerce. He was also associated with various committees of the Council.
His international career took him to places like Beirut, Kuwait and Dubai at a time when these were small trading outposts; and later to the US.)
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