The Hindu impact: CM to ask railways for details on iron ore transport

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will shortly write to the Railways seeking information on the quantum of iron-ore transported between 2006 and 2010 from Bellary to the domestic market.

Reacting to an >exposé in The Hindu , the chief minister promised to initiate an inquiry into the iron-ore scandal. >The exposé by The Hindu in last two days provided data-based evidence from the Railways, the Commercial Taxes department and the CBI, revealed that illegal mining went far beyond what was unearthed by the Karnataka Lokayukta.

Mr. Siddaramaiah, who promised to implement the recommendations of the Lokayukta report submitted in 2011 said, the findings by

The Hindu would become part of an inquiry.

He was speaking to a group of Karnataka editors at a breakfast meeting at his official residence - Krishna.

To a question, the Chief Minister said he would initiate action without fear or favour against those officials and politicians who were responsible for mining losses. “We will recover the losses from them,” he added.

“The investigation by the CBI and the Central Empowered Committee appointed by the Supreme Court is going on,” he said, adding his government would re-examine the implications of the ban on mining on some categories of mining companies in Bellary imposed by the apex court.