Federation objects to mining survey

BANGALORE: The Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI), southern region, has sought the intervention of Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) chairman to check the ongoing survey by a joint team to demarcate boundaries of 99 mining leases in Bellary-Hospet forest area.
In a letter to chairman P V Jayakrishnan on Wednesday, FIMI director D V Pichamuthu said: "Demarcation of mining leases in Bellary and Hospet regions is not being carried out in accordance with the Supreme Court directive on May 6."
He alleged that the demarcation exercise which started on May 16 is being conducted by surveyors of Rural Engineering College (REC), Suratkal, in the presence of officials of the forest and mines and geology departments, besides representatives of the lessee."There are no representatives either from the Lokayukta or the CEC, which is a clear violation of the SC directive,'' he claimed.