Karnataka govt appoints officer to probe illegal mining permissions on forest lands

Rajendra Kumar Kataria, Principal Secretary, transport, horticulture and sericulture departments, has been appointed to conduct a comprehensive investigation into all the illegal mining activities permitted in forest areas of the State, the High Court was informed by the Karnataka Government.

Kataria will file an exhaustive report on the illegal activities, the court was told.

A HC division bench headed by Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi was hearing a petition filed by Pavan Ramaswamy, managing director of Vanivilas Cements Private Limited, on Thursday.

The HC on February 14, 2022 directed the State to appoint an officer of the rank of principal secretary or secretary to conduct the investigation into illegal allotment of mining permits in forest areas.