K'taka CM questions officials over delay in mining operations after auctions

Bengaluru, Jul 1 (PTI) Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday questioned officials about the action taken against individuals and companies that acquired mining land through auctions but failed to commence operations despite holding the land for years.

Chairing a review meeting with senior officials of the Department of Mines and Geology, he directed them to formulate a scientific rule prescribing a minimum timeframe within which mining activities must begin after land allotment through auction.

The Chief Minister instructed the Secretary of Mines Department, Rohini Sindhuri, to submit a comprehensive report on mining activities, including the number of mining leases granted, the status of leaseholders, delays in commencing operations,

and cases pending due to lack of forest clearance along with reasons for the delay.

He also asked the Chief Minister’s Economic Adviser L K Atheeq and Additional Chief Secretary of the Finance Department Ritesh Kumar Singh to study Karnataka’s mining policy along with the mining policies, rules, and laws of other states and formulate a scientific rule prescribing the minimum time within which mining operations should commence after an auction, the CMO said in a statement.

Officials informed the meeting that revenue collection during 2025–26 stood at Rs 8,845.39 crore, achieving 98 percent of the target.

During 2026–27, revenue of Rs 1,164.11 crore has been collected so far.

In 2025-26, authorities detected 6,301 cases of illegal and unauthorized mining and registered cases against the offenders. 268 FIRs were registered. These included 3,648 cases related to illegal sand mining.

The CM held a detailed discussion on the possible impact of taxes applied retrospectively on the revenue to the government. He instructed officials to ensure that any action taken does not violate the central government’s mining regulations or the directions of the Supreme Court.

He asked the officials to assess the fiscal and revenue implications of implementation such measures. PTI KSU ROH