Regulator soon for mining sector in India, says Moily

BANGALORE - Union Law and Justice Minister M Veerappa Moily has said that a regulating body under the Mineral Regulation Bill would soon be in place to check illegal mining across the country.

“Government has now proposed a bill, particularly on the mineral regulation bill, and under this bill we are bringing one chapter for establishing a National Mineral Regulation Authority. All the States are now empowered to take action to prevent illegal mining and also to regulate the leasing of the licensing,” said Moily on the sidelines of a seminar here on Saturday.

“But unfortunately even though the power has been given by the Government under the provisions of the act to the State Governments, they have totally failed to discharge their duties to prevent or stop illegal mining,” he added.

Earlier on July 18, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa had given a clean chit to his cabinet ministers, the Reddy brothers, Janardhana and Karunakara in the illegal mining controversy.

“We have discussed in detail about the illegal mining issue and in no way the Reddy brothers are responsible for this illegal mining,” said Yeddyurappa.

“The Lokayukta would be looking into the illegal mining prevalent in Karnataka since 2002,” he added.

The Reddy brothers are facing allegations of illegal mining of iron ores by encroaching upon a large chunk of forestland in the area causing huge damage to the environment. (ANI)