Bellary Church Property Being Looted By Illegal Mining
BELLARY,
Feb. 22, 2010, 14.30 Hrs (CBCI News):
With much
pain and disappointment, we wish to inform the public about
the manner in which the property of the Catholic Diocese of
Bellary, situated in Sy. No. 9, of Ramgad Village, Sandur Taluk,
Bellary District, is being illegally and forcefully mined and
property looted.
In spite of repeated pleas to the relevant Government Departments,
the illegal miming is carried on with the claimed active support
of people in high offices of the Government.
The property belongs to the Catholic Diocese of Bellary. These
lands are adjoining each other and are encompassed around by
stone bunds. Four bungalows which are in a dilapidated condition
are existing in the land. Church personnel resided in these
houses for over 70 years. The ownership of the lands can be
traced to the existing revenue records that are about 100 years
old.
People apparently belonging to M/s Ranka International Pvt Ltd
have from over a month, now and then, come to the land at Sy.
No. 9, Ramgad Village and have illegally mined iron ore and
have transported the same in transport vehicles. Upon questioning
they have been extremely abusive and insulting and have claimed
that they have the active support and backing of the people
in the high offices of the present Government. Unfortunately,
there isn’t much support from the administration to protect
the church property.
To make the situation worse, the company claims to have obtained
a mining licence from the Mines & Geology Department in
respect of Sy. No. 9 owned by the Bishop of Bellary (The Catholic
Diocese of Bellary).
This is a grave injustice that is being done to us and it appears
from the circumstances, the properties of the Church are not
safe anymore and are unlawfully encroached upon. We seem to
be soft targets for such unruly constituents who with the support
of individuals in the Government have taken undue advantage
of the situation here.
We express our frustration in this situation and seek from the
Governments for its kind intervention to protect the lands of
the Catholic Community of Bellary and to ensure that justice
is done.
