Hyderabad, November 11: The government of Andhra Pradesh has finally acted on allegations that the Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC), promoted by Karnataka Tourism Minister Gali Janardhan Reddy, has been mining iron ore illegally in areas not leased out to the company.
On instructions from AP Chief Minister K Rosaiah, a committee comprising officials of the forest department - Assistant Conservators Omkar Singh and Sammi Reddy and Additional Principal Chief Conservator SBL Misra - has been constituted to probe the matter.
It has been asked to visit the mining areas tomorrow and submit a report to the government within 10 days.
The action follows a report submitted by Anantapur Divisional Forest Officer Kallol Biswas recently on the illegal iron ore mining by the OMC.
The OMC has been allegedly mining iron ore in areas leased out to the Bellary Mining Company by claiming rights over it.
It is also accused of having removed the boundary markings to give an illusion of legitimacy to its operations.
The two companies have been fighting over this issue for over four years. The Supreme Court has asked the Andhra government to define the border between Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka to end the row between the two companies, but no action has been taken so far.
The opposition parties have alleged that the AP Mineral Development Corporation Managing Director VD Rajagopal is acting hand in glove with the OMC.
The Andhra Chief Minister reviewed the issue with Forest department Secretary Janaki Kondepi, Additional Secretary Jawahar Reddy and Industries Secretary M Veerabhadraiah today. Rajagopal, however, was asked to leave the hall before the meeting began.
Meanwhile, the Mining and Geology department officials admitted that irregularities took place in mining of iron ore by the OMC.
--Agencies
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