Who owns minerals in state, CJ asks govt

BANGALORE: The division Bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar on Thursday wanted to know who was the actual owner of minerals in the state. This question was put by the court when advocate general Ashok Haranahalli contended that it is the state government which is the owner of the mineral wealth, but conceded that it is the central government which had all the say in the matter of mining. Commencing hisarguments in support of the July 26 and July 28 ban orders related to export ofiron ore and also issue of MDPs for ore meant for exports, the advocate generalcontended that since the central government is not doing anything to stopillegal mining despite having vast powers, the state had taken these steps toprotect its natural resources."We have 170-odd mining leases in thestate, of which 104 are working, and 72 are still waiting for clearance. Out ofthe working mining leases, cases have been registered against 54 on variouscharges. Many of the petitioners before the court have cases pending againstthem under encroachment, forest offences and illegal mining. About 30,000lorries carrying ore are damaging roads in the state. Mining is also damagingthe water bodies. The central government gives licence, fixes royalty. We getonly Rs 125 per tonne. There is no fee for getting mining leases. We are thelosers," he claimed."Is it so cheap? Then I will leave this job andstart mining," the Chief Justice remarked in a lighter vein.TheBench adjourned the hearing of the batch of petitions to nextThursday.BMIC HEARING A division Bench directed theparties concerned to show by next Wednesday the disputed land in Gottigere asmentioned in the Outward Development Plan of February 12, 2004, with regard tothe peripheral road of the BMIC project.NICE has challenged thesingle Bench order of July 27, asking them not to demolish the buildings ofpetitioners Suhael and others. The company claims the issue of land acquisitionis already settled.COMMISSIONER TO FILE REPORTThe highcourt directed the commissioner for public instruction to file a status reportby Tuesday, with regard to the availability of textbooks in unaided schoolsacross the state. Shashidhar, commissioner for public instruction, appeared incourt on Thursday and said they are taking all steps and have given instructionsto all BEOs to ensure supply of textbooks to these schools. Karnataka MinorityEducational Institutions Managements' Federation, the Karnataka Unaided SchoolsManagements' Federation representing over 2,000 schools in the state, have filedpetitions claiming non-availability of textbooks.