Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday directed officials to resolve the issue of mining leases of the forest department by creating a single window system.

While speaking at the review meeting of the Forests and Mines and Geology departments on Tuesday, he said that separate meetings of Mines and Geology, Revenue and Forest Department should be held by its Ministers and the officials to resolve the forest clearance and other permissions from the Forest Department to the companies that have leased mines in the state.

It was discussed in the meeting that many cases are pending before the Forest Department for disposal. The officers explained that the mining lease companies have not given land for compensatory afforestation. There are farmers in Hassan and some other parts of the state who are willing to sell agricultural land due to attacks by elephants and other wildlife. The CM opined that the mining companies can purchase land from such farmers by paying a suitable price.

It was suggested to discuss and settle the issue of handing over the land of KIOCL Kudremukh, owned by the Government of India to the Forest Department.

The Chief Minister instructed that the Forest Department should not give undue trouble to the Department of Mines and Geology and there should be no unnecessary delay.

The CM also asked to proceed in the matter of auctioning 25 million tonnes of ore of the Forest department only after taking the opinion of the Advocate General in this regard.

The officers informed that, with respect to major minerals and minor minerals, till the end of September, Rs 3276 crores of revenue has been collected for the year 2023-24.

The chief minister suggested that action should be taken to prevent unnecessary leakage of royalties which is collected by the government and the vigilance team should take action from time to time in this regard.

The CM told to seek a legal opinion on the transfer of forest clearances for C category blocks as per the Supreme Court order. Discussions were also held regarding allowing mining in mined forest areas and non-forest areas.

Forest Minister Ishwar Khandre, Minister of Mines and Geology S.S. Mallikarjun, Additional Chief Secretary Forest Department Javed Akhtar, Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister Rajneesh Goel, Political Secretary to Chief Minister Govindaraju, Director of Mines and Geology Department Girish and senior officials were present in the meeting.