Three social organisations, which are fighting against illegal mining, are set to launch an Anna Hazare-like agitation in the State demanding that the State Government seek a “court-monitored” CBI probe into illegal mining besides implementing Lokayukta's report on illegal mining in letter and spirit.
Announcing this at a press conference in Bangalore on Saturday, the National Committee for Protection of Natural Resources (NCPNR), Janasangram Parishat and Samaj Parivarthan Samudaya announced that they would launch a satyagraha in the State from September 15 to 30 to build public pressure in support of their demands.
NCPNR convener S.R. Hiremath, who has launched a legal battle against illegal mining by filing a petition before the Supreme Court, said the satyagraha would be held at all the taluk centres.
Declaring that every citizen has a right over jal (water), jungle (forest), khanij (mineral resources) and beej (seed), he called upon the people of the State to come out in the open to support their agitation in a bid to save precious mineral resources and also to bring those involved in looting of these resources to book.
He said during the agitation, the organisations would submit a memorandum to Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda seeking implementation of their demands, including initiating action against those indicted in the Lokayukta's report. “We are seeking a court-monitored CBI probe into illegal mining as we do not want any politicisation of the probe by the Union Government,” he said.
‘Strong lobby'
Speaking on the occasion, Janasangram Parishat coordinator Raghavendra Kushtagi alleged that powerful people, including industrialists, were lobbying for protecting those indicted in the Lokayukta report. This, he said, may lead to the government putting the Lokayukta report in cold storage.
