HUBBALLI: Faced with severe criticism from none other than former Lokayukta Justice N. Santosh Hegde, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday sought to downplay the cabinet’s decision to reject a Lokayukta report against three officers allegedly involved in sand mining, saying a departmental inquiry has been ordered as the report lacked clarity.
Maintaining that the government was not trying to weaken the institution of Lokayukta, he told the media here that a departmental inquiry was ordered into illegal sand mining to ascertain the role of other officials.
“Charges against KAS and IFS officers are not yet proved though the Lokayukta submitted a report with a recommendation for disciplinary action. We have not rejected the Lokayukta report but instituted a parallel probe into involvement of officials of all departments. The government will initiate action only after the departmental inquiry is completed,” he added.
Clarifying the state government’s stand on settlement of arrears of sugarcane growers, he said the government has already served notices on managements of sugar factories in this regard. In case the managements fail to pay growers their dues, the government would auction stocks of sugar to ensure that farmers get the money.
Reacting to the demand of leaders of north Karnataka to hold the legislature session for at least 20 days instead of ten days in Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi, he said that government would soon take a decision in this regard to discuss problems faced by people of the region.
On cricket betting in Hubbali-Dharwad, he said a CID probe has been ordered into involvement of police officers in the racket. Besides, the government has sought a detailed report from the police commissioner of the twin cities.
