central empowered committee report (i) of the cec in writ petition

Forest Department, mining leases illegally granted in
Ramghad Forest blocks and other forest blocks were
allowed to be continued and iron ore worth hundreds of
crores of rupees has been extracted. The forest cover in
these areas, as seen from the satellite imageries, have been
wiped out. Illegal mining on massive scale took place
particularly during 2009 and 2010 in the forest area falling in
ML No.2010 even after the filing of the Report by the
Lokayukta, Karnataka, a number of forest offence case
being registered and reports from the IBM, DGMS and joint
inspection by the IBM and the State of Karnataka. The
connivance of the concerned officials is glaring. The satellite
imageries vividly bring out the extent of illegal mining which
perhaps runs into thousands of crores of rupees.
24. Some steps have finally been initiated by the State of
Karnataka to check the illegal mining. The most important
one being the recent transfer of the Deputy Commissioner,
Bellary, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Bellary Forest
Division, Superintendent of Police, Bellary and Director,
Mines as they had brazenly colluded with the mine
leaseholders. Earlier when an attempt was made to shift
them, it resulted into a serious political crisis in the State.
However, it is imperative that the subordinate staff holding
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