Centre can step in over mining report

BELLARY: Union Corporate Affairs Minister Veerappa Moily on Saturday said the Centre would step in if the state government did not act on the Lokayukta report on illegal mining particularly with respect to under invoicing and illegal export of iron ore.“We are waiting for the state government to act. As of now, we are told that the state government has entrusted the task of suggesting ways to implement the Lokayukta report to the additional chief secretary.  We will wait for some time and step in if they don’t act,” Moily said.The Lokayukta report had unearthed several irregularities particularly with regard to under invoicing and illegal export of iron from various ports. There were also instances of FERA violations. These are issues that needed serious action, said Moily, who was in Bellary to campaign for the Congress candidate.To a question on how long the Centre would wait before acting, Moily said the Centre would make no hasty decision as there are chances of BJP making it a political issue and accusing the Centre of being biased against  the BJP government. Training his guns on the state BJP government, Moily said that over `60,000 crore of natural wealth of Bellary was looted by the people in the state government. “This government is like a diabetic patient. Like there is no permanent cure for diabetes, there is no cure for corruption by this government. Half a dozen MLAs and ministers are facing charges and many more likely to follow suit,” Moily siad.He also called upon the people of Bellary to vote against BJP and Sriramulu while accusing them of bringing a bad name to the state. He also termed the on-going fight between BJP and Sriramulu as a “fight for the share in the looted money”.