Bangalore, August 15: Facing heat from Congress over the illegal mining issue, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today asserted that no new mining licences had been granted by the BJP government after coming to power.
“After coming to power, we neither gave new mining licences nor renewed them without value addition. Mining is going on with licences issued by previous governments. As per the new mining policy, there is provision only for value addition and no provision to export the ore,” he said after unfurling the tricolour on the 64th Independence Day.
Orders prohibiting iron export from 10 ports was a “revolutionary” step taken by his government to curb illegal mining and export of iron ore, the chief minister said.
–Agencies