Illegal extraction of laterite, a vital raw material for cement production, is reportedly continuing unchecked in Karnataka’s Belagavi Rural constituency, allegedly causing government revenue losses amounting to crores of rupees.
Serious allegations have emerged that unlawful laterite mining has been going on for the past three months, allegedly in full view of the police and the Department of Mines and Geology. The issue surfaced after social activist Rahul Siddappa Avanache from Muchandi village brought the matter to the attention of Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan and District In-charge Minister Satish Jarkiholi.
Subsequently, officials from the Mines and Geology Department carried out a raid. However, local residents claim the operations were suspended only briefly and resumed the same night, raising doubts over the seriousness of the enforcement action.
The controversy deepened after officials reportedly issued only a warning to the contractor, while notices were served on economically weaker farmers who had leased out their land. This has led to allegations of selective enforcement and possible official involvement.
Records show that in March 2025, a contractor was permitted to extract 2.58 lakh metric tonnes of laterite from 12 acres of land in Inam Badas village. Sources allege that mining was also illegally carried out at three additional unauthorised locations in the same village.
Villagers described the raid as an “eyewash,” stating that no trucks were seized, no earthmovers confiscated, and no illegally extracted laterite impounded. They further alleged that no notice was issued to the contractor.
Senior Geologist Bindan Patil, who headed the raid, confirmed that only a warning was issued. Legal experts point out that existing mining laws mandate arrests and the seizure of vehicles, machinery and minerals in such cases, raising questions over whether a warning amounts to shielding those involved.
Sources further claim that illegally mined laterite is being transported without checks through the limits of 15 to 20 police stations to cement plants in Kalaburagi and Andhra Pradesh. The scale of the alleged movement has intensified suspicions of police and official collusion.
Locals say the issue goes beyond the actions of a single contractor and points to a deeper systemic failure, marked by administrative silence and alleged political backing. There are also allegations that illegally mined laterite is being dumped into licensed mining zones and shown as legally extracted material, effectively legitimising stolen mineral resources. Who is protecting those responsible remains an unanswered question.
