HUBLI: Senior advocate and former Union law minister Ram Jethmalani has said that the state government should take firm steps to curb illegal mining activities in the state.
He was speaking to reporters at the High Court circuit bench in Dharwad on Monday.
Answering a query, he said that there is a lot of support for the state government to order CBI probe or inquiry by any other agency into the illegal mining activities.
"The reports by Lokayukta and Central Empowering Committee set up by the Supreme Court on illegal mining are enough for the state government seek CBI probe," he said. Referring the case he is fighting in the court against Obulapuram Mining Company, he hoped that the authorities concerned will not support any wrong doing.
Fire scare at Hubli airport
STAFF at the Hubli airport had a slight scare on Monday when a fire broke out near the runway and forced a special plane carrying eminent lawyer and former Union Law Minister Ram Jethmalani to keep hovering over the airport for about 10 minutes.
An Airports Authority of India official, however, said that the incident was part of a drill being carried out during Air Safety Week.
The fire reportedly took place when a Kingfisher aircraft had landed and a special plane was about to land, according to a source. However, fire brigade personnel quickly swung into action and extinguished the fire immediately.
Most of the passengers did not notice the fire, the source said.