Illegal mining: Action against 442 officials

“The Cabinet has approved the report of the high level committee with respect to the action initiated and to be initiated against officials identified in the Lokayukta report of July 27,2011. As per the Lokayukta Act an action taken report must be sent in 90 days and the approval of the committee’s report is a step in that direction,” said state Law Minister S Suresh Kumar.

The government is,however,yet to decide on action to be initiated against former ministers and political leaders named in the Lokayukta’s report. On October 13,the Cabinet sought clarifications from the Lokayukta regarding action on politicians.

“The acceptance of the committee’s report for action on government officials does not mean there will be no action against others. Clarifications have been sought,” said the Law Minister.

The officers against whom the committee headed by Additional Chief Secretary K Jairaj has recommended action include former directors of the mines and geology department K S Prabhakar,M E Shivalingamurthy and Gangaram Baderiya — all of whom are serving IAS officers.

The IFS officers against whom action is recommended are S Muthaiah,Srinivasulu,P Rajashekhar and M K Shukla. They had all served as deputy conservators of forest in the Bellary or Chitradurga division where illegal iron ore mining has been rampant according to the Lokayukta report.

“In view of the specific charges brought against these officers,the committee has recommended that the government obtain their remarks and take action accordingly,” Kumar said.

In all out of 617 officials named in the Lokayukta report on the basis of documents seized from an illegal mining racketeer’s computer,447 officials have been identified. Disciplinary action has been initiated against 182 officials by their departments.