By Asha Krishnaswamy, DH News Service, Bangalore: The satellite images, which are part of the Lokayukta report on the mining activities in Bellary, Chitradurga and Tumkur districts, indicate that there is rampant illegal mining by many companies. The images are given by the National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), Hyderabad and processed as well as analysed by Karnataka State Remote Sensing Application Centre (KSRSAC). The satellite images of almost all the mining sites of Bellary, Chitradurga and Tumkur districts have been analysed, and have become part of the report Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde is going to submit to the State government soon. The government had asked the Lokayukta to inquire into the fraudulent mining activities between January 2000 and 2006. He is also looking into the joint venture contracts entered into by Mysore Minerals Ltd that are alleged to have favoured select individuals and companies. The probe began in February 2007. The report may be presented in eight volumes to the government. Justice Hegde said, "I have visited extensively the mining areas in three districts. On the Government of India recommendation, 165 mining leases have been given in Karnataka. I have not come across even a single company carrying out mining as per the rules. Illegal mining have been noticed in almost all the mining areas. My report, supported by the satellite images, will highlight how the illegal mining is thriving.' Asked how difficult it is to find out illegal mining activities as there are complaints that boundaries drawn by the Survey of India during the British regime are not visible, he said "We used three data to detect illegal mining. We physically inspected the mining areas using the local area maps. The data have been superimposed on the satellite images. Every image we have shows that mining has been carried out exceeding the leased area. In Hospet we could see the boundaries drawn by the Survey of India. Bellary was under the Madras province. The boundaries drawn then to indicate revenue land, forest land and other types of land are clear and valid even now." Asked whether he would be recommending ban on mining, Justice Hegde replied in the negative. Mining lease should be given to only those who are ready to put up steel plants in the vicinity of mining pits so that transportation of ore can be minimised and also domestic demand for steel could be met. Why should we export the ore and import steel?" He also said that restoration of mineral wealth which we have lost is not possible. But further damage can be controlled by imposing certain restrictions . CM Yeddyurappa announced granting of Rs 55 lakh to conduct satellite survey of mines. Official sources said the government is looking for images of higher resolution.