Lokayukta to come out with report on illegal mining next month

Hubli, July 25 (UNI) A preliminary report on illegal mining operations in Karnataka, that has created a controversy, will be ready in a month's time, Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde said today.

Talking to newsmen here, he said objections and suggestions on illegal mining had been invited from the public and the process would be completed in one month. He would come out with the final in the next five months, he said.

Replying to a question, Mr Hegde said a proposal to provide more teeth to Lokayukta had been submitted to the government suggesting 13 amendments to the Lokayukta Act.

On the controversy over legislators not declaring the details of assets, he said there were some legal hurdles and the he had sought some clarifications from the government.

To another question, Mr Justice Hegde said he would have felt 'honoured' had the Chief Minister dropped the two ministers -- Hanumanthappa Alkod and Sharanabasappa Darshanapur, on his recommendations earlier, for not submitting their asset details.

Responding to another question, he said it was impossible to eradicate corruption from public life but it could be minimised and he was making such an effort.

UNI