Govt will abide by court orders on mining: Rosaiah

Andhra Pradesh chief minister K Rosaiah on Sunday said that the ruling Congress government would abide by the apex court’s verdict on the alleged irregularities by mining firm Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) in the Bellary reserve forest of Anantapur district.

OMC is owned by Karnataka tourism minister Gali Janardhan Reddy.

“Our government will act if the Supreme Court issues any directions on the basis of the report of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) appointed by the apex court on the mining issue,” the chief minister said.

The CEC, in its report submitted to the court on November 20, established illegal mining activity in Anantapur district bordering Karnataka and recommended that the mining in the region be stopped till the boundaries of all mining lease holders are clearly demarcated.

Lashing out at Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo N Chandrababu Naidu’s allegation that he (Rosaiah) was trying to protect Janardhan Reddy’s OMC, the chief minister challenged Naidu to debate on the corruption allegations during his (Naidu's) nine-year rule, while rejecting the Opposition party leader’s demand for his resignation over the issue.

The Andhra government, on November 11, ordered an inquiry into the alleged mining of iron ore and violation of forest laws by OMC. The government has also constituted a three-member committee of senior officials of the state forest department to probe all allegations raised against OMC.

Brushing aside TDP's allegations that he and his top officials were on the payroll of OMC, Rosaiah said “a person with a sound mind will no make such wild allegations and use such language.”

Stating that despite being defeated in the recent general elections Naidu appeared in great haste to come to power, Rosaiah said that he would resign as chief minister if the TDP got one seat more than the Congress in the 150-member Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections scheduled to be held on November 23.

“Much before the CEC had submitted its report, we requested the Centre to order a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry. The inquiry will unearth the real problem,” Rosaiah said, adding that the mining lease to OMC was originally issued during Naidu’s regime.