Mangaluru: MLC Ivan D’Souza held a press meet at his office at the MCC premises here on March 26.
Addressing the mediapersons Ivan said, “KIOCL Ltd had submitted an application earlier regarding the reservation of an area of 470.40 hectares for Iron and Manganese Ore in favour of KIOCL under the provisions of MMDR Act, 1957 in Bellary district. KIOCL had suspended its mining activities at its Kudremukh mine site with effect from January 1, 2006, following a direction from the Supreme Court. Since then, the company has been sourcing iron ore at a higher logistic cost to run its plant at Mangaluru. As a result of the stoppage of mining activities at Kudremukh, the entire operations of KIOCL have been at stake. After verifying the said proposal the Department of Mines and Geology recommended for the reservation of the area under the favour of KIOCL Ltd.”
He further said, “I had urged in the Vidhana Parishad that the recently amended MMRD Act provides for allotment of mines to the public sector companies. The state government should allot mines under the new Act immediately and help to revive the public sector company. Government has accepted the recommended proposal which is very good news for KIOC Land and we have planned to give direct employment to people.”
Speaking about the Kumki Land issue he said, “Agriculturalists in different parts of Karnataka are allowed to reap the benefits of the Kumki land for the purposes of collecting firewood, cattle-grazing, preparation of compost etc. However the supreme court can decide to withdraw the privileges of ‘Kumki’ land. We have been urging the state government since long time to withdraw its order. Therefore the government has directed us to do a proper survey on the kumki land including the profit and income coming through the land. Later decision will be taken accordingly, on withdrawal of the Kumki land.”
KIOCL officials and other congress members were also present at the press meet.
