Whistleblowers Raj Kumar Topannavar and Sujit Mulgund have filed a petition with Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, alleging illegal mining, unauthorised use of government land, and administrative lapses in Belagavi district. They have sought urgent intervention to address these concerns.
Background of the Complaint
The complaint arises after the Director of the Mines and Geology Department permitted the resumption of mining on government land at Belagundi village in Belagavi taluk on May 2. This decision came despite the department having recently suspended laterite mining by Malini Resources at the same site following objections and media scrutiny.
Allegations Regarding Survey Number 285
The petition claims that Survey No 285 was unlawfully included in the mining lease area by department officials without statutory approval. The whistleblowers assert that none of the no-objection certificates (NOCs) issued by the Revenue and Forest Departments mention this survey number. Nevertheless, mining is allegedly being carried out by treating it as part of the sanctioned lease.
They argue that any move to include Survey No 285 is legally untenable and amounts to misrepresentation. They have also questioned the approval to resume operations, stating that it fails to address the alleged unauthorised inclusion of government land, does not establish the existence of a valid environmental clearance (EC), and overlooks the lack of any recent ground-level geological survey.
Environmental Clearance and Geological Survey Issues
According to the complaint, no valid EC exists for the current scale of operations, making any mining activity illegal regardless of prior permissions. It further alleges that no recent scientific survey or approved mining plan has been undertaken, rendering the continuation of operations arbitrary and unlawful.
Inaction by Revenue Department
The whistleblowers have also flagged the alleged inaction of the Revenue Department in registering an FIR, despite Survey No 285 being classified as government land. They claim that repeated complaints backed by documents have failed to trigger action against illegal extraction and encroachment, pointing to possible dereliction of duty and collusion.
Demands for Action
Seeking intervention, the whistleblowers have urged the Chief Secretary to order a comprehensive inquiry into the inclusion of Survey No 285, direct registration of FIRs against the mining company and officials concerned, examine the role of senior Mines and Geology Department officers, and halt all mining until compliance is ensured. They have also sought recovery of losses to the state exchequer and strict action against those responsible.
