With 208 mining leases in the State set to get “deemed extension” till 2030, according to the provisions of the Central Ordinance amending the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, the Karnataka government “will not get a single rupee” for the next 15 years, said Law Minister T.B. Jayachandra.
Speaking citing an order from the Union government in the Legislative Council on Thursday, Mr. Jayachandra said that contrary to the Opposition’s claim that the Ordinance would bring in money into the State’s coffers by making auctioning mandatory, there was “absolutely no gain for the State”.
Earlier, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council K.S. Eshwarappa had tried to corner Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on his decision to renew mining licences of eight companies without auctioning them, describing it as a violation of the Ordinance. He had said the State government’s decision to renew leases had led to loss of crores of rupees to the State exchequer.
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The Chief Minister taunted Mr. Eshwarappa on Thursday, asking how a decision of the Centre, which brings no money to the State exchequer, was acceptable to the BJP. “How is it a loss to the State when we do it and not when the Centre does it?” he said.