File photo of Karnataka's Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre.
Credit: DH Photo
Bengaluru: Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre on Friday said Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy was making false claims in the row over the forest department’s actions against Kudremukh Iron Ore Mining Limited KIOCL and HMT companies.
Kumaraswamy, the Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries, had on Thursday accused the state government of “politicising” the issue of KIOCL and blamed the state government for 300-400 workers of the mining company losing jobs.
Khandre noted that the state government was only asking the KIOCL to comply with the CEC directions and pay the penalty for the violations it has committed in the Kudremukh wildlife sanctuary.
“Kumaraswamy is talking about 300 jobs. What about the unfulfilled promise of the National Mineral Development Corporation’s steel plant which has not been set up though 2857.54 acres were acquired for it in 2014. Why is he not
speaking about the revival of the Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Plant,” the minister asked.
Khandre said he was also ready for a discussion on the matter and provide all the relevant records, including the legal issues related to the case against Hindustan Machine Tools, to Kumaraswamy.