Indian State of Karnataka Clamps Down on Illegal Mining

Keeping illegal mining under check is turning out to be the next big challenge for the Indian state of Karnataka.

The Chief Minister of Karnataka BS Yeddyurappa said on Tuesday that about 20 squads were going to check on illegal mining of iron ore as he rejected the criticism from the Opposition that there had been no checks on the unlawful activities.

The government is also going to install more checkposts and increate investigative squads to check the illegal mining and exports of iron ore. Barcoding on transport permits and a special task force which would include the police, the mining and the transportation departments. Six CCTVs have also been installed along the Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh border checkposts.

Illegal iron ore mining has become a major problem in Karnataka with the government seizing over 100,000 tonnes of ore from 58 stockyards where it was being stored illegally in the last two months alone.

As a result, licences to the 58 private yards have also been cancelled.