Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of diamond jubilee celebrations of KASSIA, he said export of minerals cannot be banned, but it can be regulated.
Moily’s reaction has come at a time when Chief Minister Yeddyurappa has been advocating ban on the export.
He had been asking the Opposition parties in the State on taking a delegation to Delhi and urging the Centre to take steps in this regard. However, he said, the Centre will introduce a mineral regulation Bill in the next session of Parliament, seeking to regulate exploitation of mineral resources and encourage value addition in the country. The draft Bill will be placed before the coming cabinet meeting, he added.
“It is a revolutionary Bill. If passed in Parliament, it will put a check on illegal export of minerals, especially iron ore from the country and ensure availability of minerals for the domestic use,” he stated.
On strengthening the institution of Lokayukta, Moily reiterated that the Centre is planning to give constitutional powers to the Lokayukta to effectively fight corruption.
In order to weed out the menace of corruption, the institution of Lokayukta should be allowed to function as an autonomous body. It is one of the recommendations of II Administrative Reforms Commission report, he added.