Yeddyurappa wants CMs meet to discuss iron ore export ban

CM admits on ''loot'' of iron ore in the state

"I will write a letter to the Prime Minister tomorrow itself requesting him to convene a meeting of all chief ministers. There is a need to put an end to the menace of loot of iron ore," Yeddyurappa told the state assembly.

He was intervening during a debate on the circumstances that forced Lokayukta Santosh Hegde to quit his post recently. Hegde had accused the BJP government of not acting on his report on illegal mining and being "indifferent" towards corruption.

Yeddyurappa, who offered to place all the records over mining in the House, said during 2004-05 when the Congress-JDS coalition government ruled, records showed 64,685 lakh tons of iron ore were mined while the actual export was 1,16,91,183 tons indicating a surplus of 52.39 lakh tons.

Going into a damage-control mode, ruling BJP sent a delegation of its state senior leaders to Santosh Hegde to prevail upon him to reconsider his decision to quit, but he said 'no' to them.

The delegation, including BJP's state unit President K S Eswarappa, Home Minister V S Acharya and Law Minister S Suresh Kumar, offered to accept his suggestions to strengthen the Lokayukta, besides ordering an inquiry into the disappearance of iron ore stocks from the Belekere port in Karwar.

Eswarappa claimed Hegde told the delegation that he would "pay attention to reconsidering the resignation". However, Hegde said he initially said "no" but when the delegation persisted he told them that he would reconsider his decision only "out of politeness" which in other words meant "no".

The Government's damage control act came in the wake of mounting pressure from various quarters on Hegde to continue in his post and also his crusade against corruption.
Meanwhile, Union Law Minister M Veerappa Moily said the Government would bring in an amendment to the Minerals Regulation Act to check illegal export of iron ore to ensure that mineral resources were not plundered.

The Bill, which was ready, is expected to be introduced in the coming monsoon session of Parliament, he told reporters.

BJP's attempt to mollify Hegde and persuade him to withdraw his resignation comes as a surprise as Yeddyurappa had stated on June 24 that he would not make any such request and embarrass the former Supreme Court judge.

Sources close to the chief minister said steps would be taken to fill up the vacant Upa Lokayukta post next week. The state government began the exercise to appoint Upa Lokayukta, the post of which has remained vacant for more than six months after the term of Patri Basanagouda ended.

Yeddyurappa told reporters at Mysore that it was also the government's wish that Hegde should continue. Asked whether he would also meet Hegde to plead for his continuance, he said a BJP delegation had met the Lokayukta on Friday.

"I will gather information on the outcome of talks it had with Hegde. I will announce my decision on the floor of the house on Monday," he said.

Meanwhile,the Congress on Friday demanded that the government seek a CBI probe into illegal mining and illegal export of iron ore in the state. "All those involved in these practice should go to jail. If the Chief Minister has guts, let him seek CBI probe into it," Congress leader Siddaramaiah said.