Bellary Catholic Diocese fights Mining Mafia

By Shivakumar G Malagi

Feb 22, 2010, Bellary: A row has broken out between the church and the miners in Bellary with the Catholic Diocese claim- ing that iron ore is being illegally excavated from its property in Ramghad vil- lage, Sandur taluk.
On Monday, several nuns, priests and heads of the community took out a protest rally in the city ask- ing the government to pro- tect church property.

While Ranka International Pvt Ltd claims to have a license from the mines and geology department to mine on the church property, Msgr. Chowrappa Yerabo- bi, Vicar General of the Bel- lary Diocese says the own- ership of the 20 acres of iron ore rich land in Ramghad village can be traced in the revenue records to the Catholic Diocese of Bellary.

"The representatives of the company were extremely abusive and insulting when we questioned them," he said.
Further, he made it clear that politically strong people at the helm of affairs are hand in glove with the Company to encroach upon the Church property and carry out illegal mining
Bishop Henry D'Souza of the Catholic Diocese of Bel- lary wrote to Governor H.R.
Bhardwaj on February 2 about the mining on church property and the governor has since reportedly directed the principal secretary, com- merce and industries to act in the matter. However, so far no action has been taken.

When contacted, deputy commissioner B. Shivappa said he had received a call from the secretary to the CM about the mining on church land and promised to look into the matter.

Meanwhile, the mines and geology department says while no license has been given to the company to mine in the area, it is enti- tled to mine 4,500 metric tonnes from the grounds in question after winning the rights in an open auction held in 2006.