Bangalore:
The National Committee for Protection of Natural Resources today said it would move the Supreme Court after receiving a detailed report on illegal mining at Kappat Gudda hill ranges in Gadag district and asked Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda order a Lokayukta probe into it.
Speaking to reporters here, National Committee for Protection of Natural Resources convenor S R Hiremath said he would move the Supreme Court after getting a substantive report on illegal mining in the hill ranges.
"We approached the Apex Court on the basis of a substantive report submitted by former Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde on illegal mining in Bellary. However, National Committee for Protection of Natural Resources first wants to give the government a chance curb illegal mining there," he said.
Hiremath alleged that a nexus of people's representatives, officials and mining mafia have looted 50 per cent of the mineral wealth from that area, to which the state government had remained a 'silent spectator'.
"We will request the Chief Minister, Speaker G Boppaiah and Council Chairman D H Shankarmurthy to discuss illegal mining in Kappat Gudda in the Assembly session this month," he said.
The illegal mining has caused enormous environmental damage in Kappat Gudda, known for its unique flora and fauna especially medicinal plants for centuries, Hiremath said.
"When we took up the issue of illegal mining in Bellary, we didn't expect ban orders on illegal mining in the state...likewise we hope the government would take cognisance and order Loakyukta probe into Kappat Gudda issue," he said.
While major focus would be on Kappat Gudda issue in 2012, National Committee for Protection of Natural Resources's other objective is to press for stringent action against four former Chief Ministers S M Krishna, H D Kumaraswamy, Dharam Singh and Yeddyurappa, Hiremath said.