BENGALURU: The Mines and Geology Department has imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 each on 26 quarry lease holders, including three leases held by M/s GMM Enterprises belonging to the family members of Mines & Geology and Horticulture Minister SS Mallikarjun in Davanagere district, for violating lease conditions.
The department’s move comes after Upa Lokayukta Justice B Veerappa registered suo moto cases after an inspection in July.
SS Ganesh, brother of Mallikarjun, is a partner of GMM Enterprises, which is operating the quarries in three survey numbers (144, 145 and 148) in Hebbal village of Davanagere. At these three sites, lease conditions, including environmental clearance, are violated.
The lease holder was not maintaining a 7.5 mtr buffer zone from the periphery of the lease area, not fixing the boundary pillars and not fencing the area are the other violations. Therefore, in all Rs 75,000 fine (Rs 25,000 on each quarry) has been imposed on GMM Enterprises.
Identical violations have been found with the other 23 leaseholders in the Davanagere district, and hence a fine of Rs 25,000 each has been imposed on them also.
Mines dept notices to 72 quarry lease holders
In all, a fine of Rs 6.50 lakh has been collected recently by the Mines and Geology Department from 26 lease holders after conducting the mahazar along with Tahsildar, Additional Director of Land Records and Forest Department officials, pending inquiry before Upa Lokayukta Justice Veerappa. The fine amount has been remitted to the government, sources told TNIE.
Added to this, sources said that the Mines and Geology Department has issued notices to a total of 72 quarry lease holders for the alleged violation of the Karnataka Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1994, in the district, including the 26 lease holders who have already paid the fine now. Even remaining leaseholders are also replying to the notices and fulfilling the conditions by taking corrective measures, sources added.
Taking serious note of the complaints received over the alleged exploitation of natural resources and causing loss to the state’s exchequer due to the alleged illegal mining, quarrying, stone crushing, and violations of lease conditions by certain lease holders in Davanagere district, Justice Veerappa, along with the District Task Force, paid surprise visit to the district in July 2025. In all, he had registered a total of 13 suo moto complaints not only pertaining to the mining department but also about maladministration in other departments in the district.
NAMES OF LEASEHOLDERS WHO HAVE BEEN SLAPPED WITH FINE
Shankar K, Vijayalakshmi Chamundeshwari Stone Crusher, GMM Enterprises (3 leases), Balasubramanya, Navabharath Building Products, Rangaswamy, T G Siddesh (2 leases), Umesh T G, Kiran Kumar G U, T G Manoj Kumar, Susheel Kumar of Shaneshwara Swamy Stone Crusher, Ramesh Babu, T G Prabhakar, Jyothy G C, Lakshmivenkateshwara Stone Crusher, Prakash M, Sujatha K, Sridhar T N, Manjunatha, Chandrappa M, Venkatesh Babu R, Praveen Kumar and Shivanaik.