Satellite survey of Reddy brothers' mines begins

A team of experts, appointed by the Supreme Court to verify charges of illegal mining in reserve forest areas in Andhra Pradesh by some companies including the one owned by Karnataka ministers-cum mining magnates Reddy brothers, today commenced satellite survey in Obulapuram.

The five-member Survey of India team inspected the boundaries of the controversial ore mining area of Obulapuram in the wake of objections over existing maps of forest and revenue departments,an official said.

The satellite control point in Hyderabad with its centre in Bellary is facilitating the survey using the latest scientific methods, guided by 1972-73 maps of the Survey of India. Chief Conservator of Forests (Anantapur), Padmanabhaiah said since it was for the first time that satellite survey was being undertaken,it would not be feasible to fix a deadline for completion of the survey.

Six more experts from the Survey of India would be joining the exercise to assist the team, he said.

A Division bench of the Supreme Court on March 22 had stayed mining activity by Obulapuram Mining Company, owned by Tourism Minister G Janardhana Reddy and Revenue Minister Karunakara Reddy and two other companies and appointed a committee to verify the charges, with a direction to submit its report in two weeks.