Good Morning Minister Saar

This is a piece of news that triggered my thoughts recently. I am writing my commentary together with the news piece.

Expressing serious concern over reports about the continuation of illegal mining in the forests of Sandur near the iron ore-rich Bellary district, union environment and forests minister Jairam Ramesh has given a week’s time to Karnataka’s BJP-ruled government to clamp down on the menace. (Good morning Minister Saar! I am very happy that you decided to wake up on this issue. This has been a concern since 2005 and has been a raging issue since 2008 and you decide to wake up today. Its been a long time coming considering that you have been given independent charge of Environment and Forests as Minister of State since May 28, 2009.)

In a letter to state chief minister B S Yediyurappa, Ramesh expressed concern over reports by the media and other stakeholders that mining was continuing in the forests of Sandur in complete violation of the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) resolution issued last month. (Minister Saar, if you are not already aware then I would like to bring to your notice that the whole mining activity that is happening in Karnataka and bordering Andhra Pradesh is a violation. Even Supreme Court has expressed this in very strong words. Yeddy Saar is not even concerned or bothered about media reports or Supreme Court’s concern. You are being very optimistic that your letter would even get the courtesy of Yeddy’s glance. But you surely informed the media and people that you are concerned. Thank you)

The resolution clearly and explicitly directed that such mining be stopped. “This is a complete and blatant contravention of the FAC directive. As you know that the FAC is a statutory body of the government, I am sure you will agree that violation of its order is a matter of serious concern,” Ramesh said in his letter. (Minister Saar is very poor in his current affairs. Mining barons of Karnataka are Yeddy’s Reddys. They are a part of the Government and they run the show. If Yeddy even looks towards them then they will threaten fall of Government. Poor Yeddy would not want that to happen considering his love for the CM’s seat. Stop bothering Yeddy or he will cry)

“The state forest department will ensure that during the period no transportation of the minerals is allowed,” Ramesh said. (Minister Saar, state forest department cannot even ensure that trees are not cut right outside of their office, how will they ensure no transportation of minerals? If you are not already aware, 5 lakh tones of iron ore under the watchful eyes of forest department went missing from Belekeri port quite recently. That’s 500 crores of national property filling up somebody’s overflowing piggy bank.)

The minister demanded a thorough investigation of the forest offence cases in respect of these mines and to take them to their logical conclusion. “Taking suo moto cognizance of the media report and FAC resolution, I am requesting you to take action to ensure that this is stopped with immediate effect and provide us with an ATR on this by July 10, 2010,” Ramesh said. (Ha.. Ha.. Ha.. Minister Saar, Please stop, you are killing me with your jokes……….)